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BOWLING GREEN: 
THE AUTHOR'S PUBLISHING COMPANY. 

KENTUCKY. 
1905. 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

NOV 18 1905 

Copyright Entry 
CLASS 4/ XXc. No 

copy Br 






The Edition of This Volume is Limited to 
300 Copies. This Being Number V 



COPYRIGHTED BY THE AUTHOR. 



THIS COLLECTION IS 

TO WHOMSOEVER MAY READ AND 
ENJOY IT. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Portrait of Author frontispiece 

"Death" Facing page 6 

"Passion's Pandemonium" " '• 148 * 

"Zorolie" " " 184 ' 

"The Shadow-Bride" " " 200 

"Alcyone" " " 304 



CONTENTS. 



FRAGMENTS. 



Dark Is the Future . 

That Sweet Dream! 

The Manger Babes . 

O Doubt! 

Eros and Psyche 

O Woman! . 

Hope's Balm . 

We Know Them Not! 

The Mystery of Man 

Bright-Eyed Hope 

Death 



OCCASIONAL^. 



If We Only Knew 

Sunset In the Rockies 

On the Street 

Think Nothing and Do Nothing 

The Foolish and the Wise . 

Mankind Is Blind . 

Santiago .... 

An Old Newspaper File 

Good Balder's Dead! . 

Warden, Call Me In Time! 

Atahuallpa 

Consolation . 

The Elements . 



CONEMAUGH 

PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

How Speaks Philosophy? 

How Answereth Life? . 
The Siren's Song 
The Answering Song . 



Song 



The Bacchanals' Song 
Song to Dionysus 
The Speech of Love 



PAGES 

1 
1 

1 

2 
2 
3 
3 
4 
4 
6 
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9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
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17 
19 
21 
24 
29 
30 

35 



55 
57 

59 
60 
65 
66 



COM TEXTS. 



The Speech of Beauty 

The Speech of Scorn 

The Speech of Gloom 

The Speech of Faith . . . 

The Speech of Doubt 

The Speech of Despondency 

The Speech of Doubt — (Resumed) 

The Wail of Reproach . 

The Speech of Hope . 

The Speech of Hate 

The Cry of Despair . 

The Speech of Mockery 

The Speech of Madness 

Storm Spirits 

Abandon ..... 

The Summing Up of Truth 



83 
88 
93 
95 
100 
114 
118 
123 
125 
131 
139 
143 
146 
150 
153 
156 



AMATORIALS. 



Nothing to Do But Grow Languid and Love! 
Youth and Love 



Oh, This Life Is All a Dream, Love! 

I Dreamed I'd Found a Love .... 

The Girl That I Love Loves Not Me 

The Game of Love 

To the Flirt 

Romance "With a Wily Tongue .... 

Age and Love 

Unrealized 

Only In Fun! 

I Hide My Loves Away 

May Have Clay Feet 

Tis Neither Here Nor There .... 

Amor Non Moritur 

Philosophy Says 

O Love, Thou Wert So Fair, Etc . 

Platonic Love 

Estrangement 

Unrequited 

The Fool 

"Because" 

Dream Faces In the Fire 

She Tells Me One Thing With Her Tongue, Etc 
If You. Wore Only Mine! 



159 
160 
160 
161 
163 
163 
164 
164 
165 
165 
167 
167 
168 
169 
169 
170 
170 
171 
172 
172 
173 
173 
175 
176 
177 



CONTENTS. 

Can Love Be Dumb? 178 

The True Equivalent 179 

Love's Rhapsody 181 

When Love and I Break Rank 183 

Discreetly Wise . . . . . . • . 183 

Zorolie 184 

THE SHADOW-BRIDE 186 

IN PASSING THROUGH 211 

Et Caetera 268 

TEXTS AND PARAPHRASES FROM THE CLASSICS. 

From Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. 

Of Things Which Are 275 

%v MiKpa Vvxn 275 

Tt na0cu; 275 

Duty 275 

And to This Pass They Come! 276 

Flattery .276 

The Death Reward of the Great 276 

Thy Children Are Like Leaves 277 

Let Clothe Spin Thv Thread 277 

Of Human Life 277 

From Pindar. 

Life and Man 278 

The Worth of Poesy 278 

The Worth of Truth 278 

From Callimachus. 

The Choice of Brides 278 

Thy Fate, OHeraclitus! 279 

Here Timon Dwells 279 

Aiye, e O Tt/xcov 279 

From Anacreon. 

Gold 280 

ALCYONE. 

Part I 281 

Part II ... 356 



FRAGMENTS. 

[Ear liest production. Published 1892. Revised and cut down. 



DARK IS THE FUTURE. 

No Sibylline books lie open to the wise 
In which to trace the circling path of life; 
No Delphic shrine, rich offers to receive, 
Stands near to balance gifts and wise portents; 
And those fair-speaking Oaks Dodona grew 
Are now forever dumb, or else their words, 
Like to the prophecies of that vain maid 
So treacherous to her Lord, are doomed to doubt 
And unbelief. Cassandra yet is she 
Who speaks with boastful faith of aught to be. 

THAT SWEET DREAM! 

Thrice happy he 
Who snugly lies locked in the arms of Sleep, 
And 'mid the crashing sounds of jarring Facts, 
Which shake the very groundwork of our laws, 
Hears naught, but calmly dreams Ambition's thoughts! 

THE MANGER BABES. 
Think of that Babe within a manger born, 
Destined to mark an age of love divine — 
Think ye that all who see the light of day 
First from a Bed of Straw will rise so great 
That man for generations long to come 
Will bow before their sacred memories? 
Each day beholds them born on beds of care; 
Each rising sun looks down upon their rags 
And pestilential squalor, rank and foul; 
Each passing breeze bears to the ear of Peace 



FRAGMENTS 

The sounds of cruel strife, — fell din of Hate; 
Each night is but a dismal shade in which 
The arm of Death is hid, with dagger clutched, 
Keen and murderous to our fondest hopes! 

O DOUBT! 
O Doubt! why wilt thou come to mock our faith! 
Why wilt thou come to fright away our cheer 
And set to brooding grim Despondency? 
Know'st thou no peace, nor wilt let others taste 
The sweets of life untouched by thy foul hands, 
Though heart and soul and life, withal, do plead? 
Yet one thing's true: Thy horrors Hope can cheer 
And brush with brightest tints, as thou with gloom, 
The Great Unknown. 

EROS AND PSYCHE. 
A story goes indeed ('t is found in lore 
Of old), that when bright Love first wooed (unseen 
Himself and only felt through love), the sweet 
And modest Soul, she listened to his words 
And took him in her trust; the which he did 
Repay most bounteously in joys. He took 
Her to his Palace grand, he showed her all 
Its beauties of which she would be mistress 
To use them as she wished. But one restraint 
Alone was set upon her will: She must 
Not hope to look upon her lover's face! 
All had been well had Doubt withheld his taunts 
And pictured not a monster of her Love. 
What if the tales which she was told were true? 
Her thoughts bestirred by Doubt's bemocking shades, 
She seized a light and stole upon her Love 
Asleep! She found him fair; yet doomed to grief 
Was she, for guilt did hang upon the act, 
And she a slave to Darkness then became 
To serve in bondage for her willfulness! 



FRAGMENTS 
O WOMAN! 

O woman! Creation's fair complement of man! 
Thy need was man's first want most deeply felt; 
Thy love the one reward his heart did crave 
'Mid all the glories vain of his poor state; 
And whether as companion to that man 
In Eden placed, thou wast created first, 
Or as the gift of Epimetheus, 
Fair handiwork of all the mighty Gods 
Of Heaven high and the vast Deep beneath, 
Man offers thanks to Him from whom thou camst — 
Pandora of his ills, Eve of his fall! 

From birth to death creation's woes are thine, 
And thine the gentle hand that soothes their pain; 
From death to birth again thou art the tomb 
To buried sorrows and thine eyes the fount 
Of salty tears whose cooling drops do fall 
The purging comfort of a grief pent heart! 
Well did the ancients fable thee Proud Queen 
Of Heaven's mighty hosts; with Zeus to sit 
Upon Olympus high: companion fit 
For gloomy Aides and his realms of hate! 
Fair Temptress of the earth and all mankind! 

HOPES BALM. 

Within this age of universal cant, 
And 'mid the frenzied shouts of Faith and Doubt, 
Which war with fury great, Hope yet is heard 
Above the din, in clear, sweet notes. Of Death 
A hoary Charon would it make to bridge 
The Styx of Life! O thou incongruous Hope! 
Thou art the priceless gift that yet remains 
Of God to cheer poor, fallen, doubting man! 
Thou guid'st the mind as in some Grotto hid 
From all the world's wild cares and cruel Fact, 
Where Dream and Comfort stay and Slumber's couch 



FRAGMENTS 

Unrivaled is by any drowsy bed 

Found in that sombre Palace where in past 

Good Hypnus dwelt! 'Tis sweet to be with thee 

And feel thy guidance in this Life's long Night, 

And be unloaded by thee of the weight 

Of all our mundane ails — to rest in peace 

And quiet sleep, eternal though it be! 

WE KNOW THEM NOT! 

Strip thou the heart's beloved 
Of outward garniture, tear then from frames 
Their tender flesh, and their pale skull and bones 
May bleach unhonored in a common heap 
While we, with careless step and unwet eye, 
Will pass them by, mistrusting not our sight! 

THE MYSTERY OF MAN. 

What changes find we here? We first beheld 
Him at his birth, strong in his nurse's arms, 
And loud in cries raised then for that of which 
He nothing knew! Next was he grown in strength 
And age and understanding, claiming what 
The youth of every age when man's estate 
Is reached, contends for — some fair woman's love! 
But now! — O Time, is this thy handiwork? 
What thaumaturgic art hast thou to work 
These marvelous changes with? What addest thou 
To Babyhood to mould the lusty Youth? 
And whence that thought profound, that wiry vim 
And fair proportions grown from tender shoots? 
Those thousand other adjuncts which to Youth 
Make up the Man? What is a birth? What means 
This growth? and why this sad decay? Nay, mark! 
It leads but to the question: What is Life? 
And from whence come? Both Sage and Fool have this 
Same query put remotest aeons past. 
But who has answer got? Democritus? 



FRAGMENTS 

His world of chance and floating Atoms can 
In name alone exist, or in the dreams 
Of some wise man; while yet the Conscious Self, 
Awake within us all, above all soars! 

Is Motion all? and its cessation Death? 
Though universal Stillness may be peace, 
Peace is not Heaven yet for all our hopes. 
The heart for other pleasures still doth long, 
Rejoicing not to find itself of Naught. 

The Kosmos of wise Plato was a dream, 
Unreal and too fanciful to trust. 
Old Epicurus and his Heaven filled 
With ail its indolent Gods, to Faith is void 
As that dark Night which harbingers no Dawn! 
Then is the NoSs of Aristotle all 
The world has yet discovered of its cause? 
The one angelic Light let through a rift 
Of Heaven to guide the wandering steps 
Of blinkard man, too frequently itself 
Occulted by his doubts? 

If all that was and is once came from Naught 
To Nothing may they not some day return 
And pay the debt of Life with mute reward? 

Philosophy, what is thy depth, and what 
Hast thou discovered in thy pryings, now, 
Into the inner- working world? — Life is! 
The Heavens and the Earth this loud proclaimed 
Ere when the ebbing Waters did recede 
Into their channels leaving fecund mud 
For germs to wiggle in; or ere the Sun 
Had kissed the roseate crown that Pisgah raised 
To overlook a Land of Promise fair! 
And where the marvel first begun there must 
It end? Has Science, then, no more to say? 
In this confusion now a Germ is found! 
A Prototype it is! Grand Axiom 



FRAGMENTS 

Of all belief! Foundation stone to build 
Upon and frame our hopeless theories! 

BRIGHT-EYED HOPE. 

Bright-eyed Hope, 
As t rasa like of old, yet rises high, 
Star-wise in the firmament of Despair, 
To shed some glimmering ray of its soft light 
Athwart the nadir of the sombre Night! 
And with that light it seeks the eye-lids closed, 
Up-prises them and stirs the thoughts within 
To dreams: then iridescent Life becomes ' 
And free from all enshrouding haze or gloom. 

DEATH. 

I am the one ubiquitous, great Dread 
Of all things animate; nor fairy dell, 
Nor spot less small or great within the world, 
Or worlds conceived within the broad expanse 
Of all the Universes which God's will 
Doth sway, but feels my presence and my sting! 
Omnipotent I am and power sway 
O'er Life most vigorous: for all obey 
My will, and by my stroke must fall at last! 
I strike alike the weak and strong, 
And dissolution is my duty here! 

When I was not vain Learning can not say, 
For so remote is that dim period the fact 
Is lost in doubt and Order and all Form 
Run into Chaos wild to antedate 
My birth! A brother to sweet Sleep I was 
Once thought, e'en courted then for rest as he! 
But Thanatos I am no longer known — 
Sweet God of Peace who weighs the eye-lids down 
In sleep etern! 
My arm about good Hypnus' neck still clings, 



D 
a 




FRAGMENTS 

But with no brotherly clasp, since that soft rest 
He would bestow I would disturb with dreams — 
Not of the pleasant sort ! but with base fear 
And wild torment I wrack his thoughts at will, 
In expectation of he knows not what! 
This drowsy brother mine would fain refresh 
The Being sunk, bestowing lease of life: 
Whilst I the sluggish Flame would quickly snuff 
And of the Slumberer make rot and clay! 
Creation is my share and I its doom, 
And naught shall cheat me of my offering! 

Dreams of those happy Aidenns pictured fair 
By rife Imagination's blendid charms 
Shall not beguile man long though strong in faith, 
For here a shoreless Gulf, impassable 
And dark, it pleases me to open wide 
And let curl up from its foul depths, all bottomless, 
The fulsome smoke of Hell's delusions rank! 
That Al Sirat, across the dark abyss 
Of Hell once thought so stretched, the way for Souls 
To Heaven beyond, is broken now and dashed 
Below in fragments irreparable! 
Such is the fate to which proud Learning brought 
This Moslem dream; and that vast Hegira 
Of Souls redeemed will find the Narrow Way 
No more — but off to me, still toppling, fall ! 

To wreck the joys of life it pleases me; 
And if before my willing hand doth fall 
To devastate I can some Ate set 
To stir Dissension up and fiercer Hate, 
My purpose is well done: and to this end 
Doth Wisdom help me out when his firm hand 
Iconoclastic proves to trembling Faith 
Built here upon the fancies of a Dream! 
And all the bloody wars with battles fierce 
Which foolish man hath with his brother waged, 



FRAGMENTS 

To me have been the sum of happiness ; 

For thus I sooner gulp them down. — and man 

Is servant to my wish! 

A Paradox I am of good and bad, 
Androphagous beside, as ye may know: 
Life is my dam but to me feeds her young — 
She and old Time begetting to destroy! 
And Growth's my enemy most fierce of all 
The rest, for he fights long and breeds delay — 
Yet even he at last falls to decay ! 
All pains and aches and cataleptic strokes 
To my keen appetite are ministers, — 
And it was never sate! Health I abhor, 
And only give it leave to procreate 
Its kind my future wants to fill! The cry 
Of Age is music to mine ears, for clear 
It saith, 'To thee I come at last, than whom 
Above all else I fear, since sure I know 
Thee not, nor can e'en guess thy punishment. 
And Ignorance a Devil in thee sees 
More fearful than in sober mind thy name 
Can conjure up! 

"What thing thou art the human ken is blank, 
But to thee all must come, reluctant though and slow, 
If slow we only can!' And answer I: 
'But bide my will and I will to you soon 
So snugly come that years will seem as days, 
So swift the flight of Time from Dawn till Dark! 
All would I have to share with me my Realm 
And learn its ways so intricate and dark. 
The secret ye shall know when ye have come, 
Ahasueras like, slow wandering to my shore! 



OCCASIONALS. 



IF WE ONLY KNEW. 

If we but knew that someone's friendly eye 
Has followed us in all our struggles here, 
Has prayed for our success and heaved a sigh 
When we have stumbled on in prospects drear; 

If we but knew that in our darkest hour 
Some love was born within another heart, 

Called into being by that ready power 
That moves affections for a kindred part; 

If we but knew that someone's helping hand 

Is e'er extended us in mute appeal, 
While we stand quailing in our doubt's command, 

AH fearful of the ends hope would reveal ; 

If we but knew that friendship is not dead, 
Nor love forgotten though the lips are mute; 

That hearts are open, and their wounds are bled 
By our neglect, or what we would impute; 

If we but knew what words unspoken say 
In sympathy of pains and aches we bear, 

Though tongues are dumb and love points not the way 
To coves of bliss beyond life's toil and snare; 

If we but knew encouragement of friend 
When obstacles lie 'long our path of life, 

And that some love will guide and us defend, 
And leave us not alone with hate and strife; 

It would make heaven of this earth below; 

It would beget a faith that is divine; 
It would give love a power here to show 

The depth of that we cannot else define! 



10 OCCASIONALS. 

It would invoke a trust which could not die: 
It would confuse all philosophic dreams: 

It would enable man his doubts defy . 

For no one would be else than what he seems! 

O Knowledge, come and halt with us a while. 

And let us know the bliss of loves unknown. 
Reveal our friends and show the happy smile 

t brightly wreathes them when we faith have 

showi 

SUNSET IX THE ROCKIES. 

[Published 1892.] 

The snow-capped peaks that crowned the mount, the rivulet be- 
low. 

Whose glistening waters, limpid, pure, came from beneath the 
snow ; 

The distant hills, horizons bright with rays of setting sun. 

The darkening skies, the peeping stars — all told that night had 
come ! 

' Twas sunset in the Rockies, gloom would settle soon o'er all 
the earth: 

But yet awhile the golden rays seemed lingering on the mount- 
ain girth. 

I stood upon a hazy peak and watched the gloaming fade: 
I saw the mantle of the Night steal over hill and glade: 
Below I heard coyotes bark, the wolf's more dismal howl. 
And wilder still there came the hoot of some poor, lonely 
Some camp-fires burned on plains below, their flickering lights 

like fire-flies glow: 
But who were gathered there around in company. I did not know. 

The world was one forsaken wild, that much I then did feel! 
Xo place for me. no company, no word to my appeal! 
My youth"s bright home I longed to see. and thought I saw its fires. 
And seated -round the flowing: hearth mv brethren and mv sires : — 






ON THE STREET. 11 

The bright illusion could not last! I was still on the mountain 

bare! 
The chill of night dispelled the warmth I thought I felt in dreams 

out there! 

That home I now confess I left renouncing all its claims, 

Led hither, thither, weary ways, o'er hills and trackless mains. 

An Ignis Fatuus of report had guided me so bold, 

In search of that men struggle for — the glittering stuff called 

"Gold!" 
But here I'd reached my journey's end to find that cherished 

goal not yet! 
My limbs awearied with their tramp, my mind still on its pur- 
pose set. 

The night was one of fitful dreams, sad battle-field of Hope, 
Wherein bright Promise fought with Fear, and Want with all 

did cope; 
I knew me then that safety lay in fast returning step, 
But scorned to take a backward course: and, chilled, I lay and 

slept! 
The hoots died out, the howls were hushed, the twinkling stars 

smiled from above; 
Sleep crept upon the world to rest, and in my dreams I dreamt 

of love! 

ON THE STREET. 

"Fruit sir? or flowers?" "Can I sing you a song?" — 
"Only a penny, sir, to help me along!" — 
"Mother at home, sir, will weep till I come! 
I'm the dependence — please, won't you give some?" — 
Many the faces, varied the cries, 
Cold is the sympathy, bitter the skies ; 
Weary and faint moves the throng with its sighs! 
Trailing, trailing life's weary way, 
Traipsing, traipsing day after day — 
.After the shekels, 



12 OCCASIONALS. 

After the gold, 
To buy the world's favor — 
For so it is sold! 

Woman and maid; little barefooted child 

With piteous face and bleared eyes that seem wild! 

Lame, hobbling man— life's burden and yoke 

His head have brought low, awaiting death's stroke! 

Many the faces, varied the cries, 

Cold is the sympathy, bitter the skies ; 

Weary and faint moves the throng with its sighs ! 

Come ragged and tattered, then flashy and proud; 

So mingle the throngs in one mad, surging crowd! 

The strong and the weak to jostle together; 

The one trampled down makes room for the other! 

Many the faces, varied the cries, 

Cold is the sympathy, bitter the skies ; 

Weary and faint moves the throng with its sighs! 

Trailing, trailing life's weary way, 

Traipsing, traipsing day after day — 

After the shekels, 
After the gold, 

To buy the world's favor — 
For so it is sold! 

THINK NOTHING AND DO NOTHING. 

An Indian once said to a white man: "Oh, brother, you will never 
le arn what happiness it is to think of nothing and do nothing. This is, 
next after sleep, the most delightful experience on earth. This was our 
condition before we were born, and it will be our condition after we are 
dead. We live for the present moment; the past is but smoke driven by 
the breath of memory. As for the future, where is it? Let us then en- 
joy the day that is, for to-morrow it will be gone from us forever!"— 
Crevecoeur on the Indians of Pennsylvania. 

What of to-morrow, O sinister seer? 

What of the yesterday, faded and gone? 
Sorrows will come to find the heart drear ; 

Past is a memory, dreamy, forlorn! 



THE FOOL LSI1 AMD THE WISE. 13 

Life is to-day, sir, pleasure is rest ; 

Nothing to do is the boon of it all! 
Nothing to think is the blank that has blest ; 

Dark is the thought man's ills will recall! 

Heaven is slumber, dearth of all thought, 

And the Nirvana the supreme goal ; 
Hell is the dream hate wranglers have wrought ; 

Peace is the sigh of every poor soul. 

Who would recall the ill yesterday? 

Who would foretaste the one of the morrow? 
Whoso would silence the heart's sweetest lay, 

Only to bring care burdened with sorrow? 

Know but the little man here can divine ; 

Feel but the pang such knowledge will give; 
Behold, too, the proof of life's quick decline; 

Seek, then, the rest in which peace can live. 

Man in his madness conjures a Hell; 

Hunts thus a place of ill, dooms so his soul; 
Wisdom is lost to him ; gloomy his spell ; 

And, through a mind deranged, lost is control! 

Wise was the Indian's thought, sweet his decree: 
"Nothing to do nor think, nothing but rest!" 

Such would a shackled man raise up and free; 
Make thus a wearied life feel itself blest! 



THE FOOLISH AND THE WISE. 

The wise will always love and sigh ; 

The simple foolish live in bliss! 
When buoyant hopes would soar too high 
Reflection shows the sham and lie 
That are one-half of all that is! 



1-4 OCCASIONALS. 

MANKIND IS BLIND. 

Mankind is blind, and here within this world 
Are things, if seen, would make this life a hell. 

; Tis ignorance, then, which makes man less the churl. 
And not the knowledge which the truth would tell. 

SANTIAGO. 

Like vultures drifting on the sea 
In poise to catch a glimpse of prey. 
Grim Battleships, all listlessly. 
Afloat the billowy water's way. 

The land adistant seems most drear 
As if bereft of happy life. 
As though some dreadful act of care 
Had silenced all in deathly strife. 
The ships frown on each barren spot 
And threaten with their shell and shot. 

Upon each deck Expectancy. 
With stride that warrants mental strain. 
With glass in hand, unweary eye. 
Quick sweeps the waters" restless main. 
And then the scraggy hills and plain. 
In quest of any foe who may 
Dispute possession of the bay. 

In blockade is an enemy. 
Screened from the view by friendly land: 
Imprisoned in a cove is he 
And little worth is his command. 
Yet grim as anything of sea 
Sit frowning fortresses above 
With peeping guns which menace the 
Vampires of death that block the cove. 

The word comes from the outer mere: 
••Storm land-force and invade the bav!" 



SANTIAGO. 15 

"Defy the blockade! break away 

And show that on the sea a peer 

Thy fleet to any threatening here!" 

Cry those penned in and barred the way. 

And this is what each War G-od cries! 

And each the other would despies! 

No brighter morn could God give man 
To set at naught His godly plan 
Than this when all the ships at bay 
Assayed to fight and break away 
From grim and iron-clad enemy. 

Expectancy shouts wildly now: 
"The cravens come! Quick! Clear for strife! 
Let boom the cannons! Show them how 
You give to victory your life! 
We glory in the sport and jar 
That comes with hot and thundering war!" 

And every man is at his gun, 
And on the bridge is stern command, 
And at the helm is steady nerve, 
And grimy stokers bend to serve; 
And then is earth-born hell begun! 
And shot and shell are made to land 
Upon the foe who seeks to swerve 
And pass the scorching blaze of wrath 
That lies within the ocean path. 

Each deck, is swept with bursting shell, 
And crimson everything with blood; 
And with the roar are groan and yell 
That tell what avalanche of hell 
Is in the flood 
Of shot and shell! 

The blinding smoke and deafening roar 
But madden those in fury's strife, 



16 OCCASIONALS. 

And heeding not the sickening gore 
They battle, giving life for life! 
And, heedless too of shrapnel rain. 
They kick aside the stiffening slain 
And fill the conning towers still. 
And aim with steady nerve and skill 
And bang and blaze away. 
And load and curse and pray! 

The guns are hot — one ship afire! 
'•To bunkers!" cried a voice of ire. 
The captain stood with sullen look. 
With pistols drove below the crowd, 
Then fiercely turned and shook 
Clenched fist at all his foes! Aloud 
He cried and cursed his fate, then blew 
His brains upon the deck! His crew 
Locked in the hole to meet a fate 
Befitting Hell's fell hate! 

His end his fellow-ships assayed 
To shun, 

And quick they were to break away 
And run 

The gauntlet to the sea. Two made 
But little way till stranded they 
And scuttled, and a deafening roar 
Told that the)' were no more! 

But elsewhere was a race for life! 
A wily fox a-sea from strife! 
But hell-hounds were these dogs of war! 
The ship escaped to seaward flew, 
An open pathway was the blue! 
A finer chase man never saw! 
This fugitive was halted, too. 
And beached and silenced then, 
And prisoners her men! 



AN ALL NEWSPAPER FILE. 17 

The Masters of the Deep rejoice; 
The gauntlet runners sigh: 
"One death with us!"' exulting voice. 
"With us six hundred die! 
And bloody thousands yield we, too, 
As hostages to you!" 

AN OLD NEWSPAPEE FILE. 

[Published 1892.] 

'Tis but a file of papers lying here! 

A heap of rubbish worn and faded dim, 

Which Time has marked and left a fingered rim 

To catch the dust that Age has sprinkled there: 

A worm-eat record one must needs declare. 

Record of deeds and moments once of life 

That stirred the souls of all who saw their acts 
Beprinted in a paper; startling facts 

That told too well of selfish, worldly strife, 

Contended here in battle fierce for life. 

A chronicle of days now fled and gone, 

When, mayhap pleasure dwelt with you and me 
To cheer the hours of doubt, or else to free 

A burdened heart which word had failed to warn 

Against the ills existence can not scorn. 

No greatness of a few lies buried there! 

The musty papers epitaph them all, 

In humble ranks or great; in every call 
Subsistence urges man for his welfare, 
To gain the means of life or flee despair. 

'Tis birth and marriage — death! A shifting light 

Reflected to us now, which else were dead, 

If memory alone still filled the head 
Unaided by this stamped and ink-chained flight 
Of events past, here mouldering in such plight! 



IS OCCASIONAL^ 

Roll back thy scroll, thou dark horizoned Past! 
Let evanescent Fime reshifl his scenes 
Behold again lead Life without the screens 

t hid its : uick — with humor's varying east — 
Its grins, ;•_ smiles >i frowns, nc I mger masked! 

Much that was seen was but a fashioned lie 
That Action wove to apron all its leeds, 

Or Cant then wrought to visor up its creeds! 
Xow. seen without we can this truth espy: 
The rankest Lie may allbut Time lefy! 

Thy stories were : sickness, death, and love! 
O: Lire but come to life to share the state 
Ordained for it — i: true this law of Fate! 
In truth, to fare in tempest like a dove 
Flown from some Ark it Covenant of love! 

Few resting places in a world of waste, 

"Wherein the waves : Hate 2 ei swell and roll, 
Contented not and sc >rning all control 
Xo resting twig, indeed, to him in haste 
To find the goal of life, its pleasures taste! 

The young which then did prattle 'round s >me knee. 

Are silver-haired and bowed with age 

This fiat 01 stern Nature all obey 
And Youth and Beauty with their grace still flee 
The sunset of a life — as futilely 

Those then with whom Fame dwelt are buried now: 
Their graves are sunk and ovei gi \ to with moss 
The mar I shaft a] with towerin_ 

Tells where they lie. and fair inscription how 
Their 1/ ss sse 1 — At least this much alloi 

it sorrows is keen, perhaps. . - 

Who knows what grief may then have rent their hearts, 
The which we know not now, nor wish the -marts: 



GOOD BALDER S DEAD. 19 

So with the hand of Love we scatter flowers, 
Nor try repress the tear-drop's bursting showers! 

Shall all our hopes of future come to such ? 
Shall faded sheets alone tell us of when 
This life has come to naught we now defend? 

Shall we for all life's ills be paid so much 

As rots upon this thing so frail to touch? 

Lie there ! thou spokesman of ambitions dead ! 
If thou art all the meed of man's life work, 
We wonder not to find them yet who shirk 

The duty life imposes, which the head 

Brings to the grave, a hapless captive led! 

Thou art now doomed as food for moths, withal ! 

Who cares what fate befalls thee at this day? 

Philosophy alone would have thee stay 
To mock our hopeful dreams by thy recall, 
Which shows us the reward Time pays to all! 

SIC SCRIBERETUR. 

u Hic jacerent ambitiones — Mortum .'" 

Inscription scrolled by fate, we must confess! 
Lo! then and now! Dust and Forgetiullness 
The tomb itself will soon or late consume, 
And Time will onward move, and Age will doom! 

GOOD BALDER'S DEAD! 

A Norseman's apostrophe to winter. Balder was the sun-god and his 
death meant the winter's night. He was killed with mistletoe! Loki, 
the mischief-maker, caused Hoder to use the mistletoe as a weapon. 
Muspelheim (Heaven) was a region of flames. Niflheim (Hell) was a 
region of ice. Ragnarok, (typically Spring,) was the rejuvenation of 
things : the Resurrection of the dead. 

Good Balder's dead! 
All nature weeps his doom. 
The iEsir are in tears, 
And frozen is the wind 



20 OCCASIONALS. 

That comes with icy breath 
To chill the frigid world 
Ere day of Ragnarok. 

Barren are hill and dale, 
And earth and sky are pale! 
Great Odin's eye is hid, 
And Night alone 
Engulfs us all in gloom! 
In Balder' s death 
The soul of all is fled! 

The seed of mistletoe 
By Hoder hurled, 
Brought grief to all, 
And Mjolnir of fierce Thor 
Is flourished high for war! 
Death unto him who slew 
Fair Balder of the Blue! 

The wicked Loki is bound 
In chains of steel: 
For iEsir bold are found 
With strength to bind 
The foe of humankind: 
Yet she who shares his realm 
Would share his pain as well! 
Sigyn, his hapless wife, 
Is boon of his curst life. 
His restless head she'd prop 
And catched each venomed drop 
That falls upon his face! 

G-ood Balder's dead 
And Loki is bound; 
But has it lead 
To peace? or found 



WARDEN, CALL ME IN TIME. 21 

Surcease of strife? 
Hell still conceals, 
And naught reveals 
The joys of Muspelheim! 
In dreams we see 
What can not he 
While Ragnarok 
Is not since reigns 
Cold Niflheim! 



WARDEN, CALL ME IN TIME! 

'Twas business cares that drove him mad. 
Wild business cares and confidence 
Betrayed. He trusted luck and saw 
A fortune fade when almost grasped; 
A Croesus wealth transformed and left 
Poor competence for wasted strength 
And health. The worry of it all 
Led thoughts into a mire and he 
Demented was ere manhood knew 
Its prime, or yet had tasted bliss 
Vouchsafed the humblest born. No sweet 
Caress of one beloved had soothed 
An anguish he had borne, nor had 
He known companionship in life. 
Alone he drifted and alone 
He died, upborne alone by pride 
Or will, to battle all his wrong. 
But when he lost his mind and sought 
To spend the fortune of his craze 
In waste of little that remained, 
The prodigality of hand 
Admonished friends to interfere 
And save to kin a fair estate 
Ere it was wasted in conceit. 



ASI0NA1 - 

He was adjudged insane and sent 
m home for infirm minds. 
'Tw&£ this sweet conceit was born. 

he oi wasted life beheld 
A vision sanity with' 
In reason's sun-set light - me 
For consolation 
Despairing in the blaze 
And all his ills were soon forgot 
In revel of his thoughts whieh saw 
A greater happiness in dream 
Than life had known : :o - k on 
A guis heart of man ! 

With every se1 og sun he sj 
To keeper of his ward. --Good mi 
Cal - as yoi 

For by the break of day I leave 
To j sweetheart of my dream! 

' isl 
- 
tiling th iht. 

hi! 
beams the & - — 

S 

W H bktshea 

- 

S I must 

id I to 
Jfust 

He s <] am to all! He lived 

In - anticipation day 

ght, and saw himself and 
As t s _ -ife mocked 



WARDEN, CALL ME IN TIME. 

former troubles had 
purged 
To leave no mark of all the ill 
Or s 

ew life ti un! 

_ ithheld 

Eact the : den had not call : 

all 
L and kept 
His interest up. B 
In addir _ 

in her attribute - 
And with redundt 
Was full island he 

He a par? 
Pull of the charms oj night 

And " • sh! A 

.reds of mythic thine- and sweet 
C mm i we - in its halls. The woods 
Tha t a : t b :1 round luxurian tly 

home of nymphs and birds and ;. 
Aa social ae the lazy house-dog which 
Lay at the dc .: welcome the. 

And ships, like swans, swept in the streams 
And bays and froliced with the winds 
As things of life. No want that fancy bred 
But her-; wag met and filled. The man 
Looked t ams and build his h 

Upon their swelli^^ tide and saw 
.self the blessed of all his kind, 
then he died in full conceit 
Of all he wove in thought and dream : 
And even in his death he - 
•Warden, call me in time 



24 A SI NA1 - 

ATAHUALLPA. 

I have taken some license with history hi this speech :: AtahnaDpa, the 
Inca ox the Peruvians, whom the Spaniards basely imprisoned and reear- 

dered: but as he did say much »i it, and i: the :h: :ah:'.e: = ::::^::i^e 
are widely iiridei ancr.g themselves as tc what he realty hia sav. I 
thought it pardonable to put into the mouth :: : man used as he was 
::t treachery, the lar.guagr naeaarai a: indignation and Bontempt — 
in fact, as mewould expect from an Indian taught tc meet death 
at the hands :f an E-nem; ith ereieaae and aeraiaee. Ihere are few 
namesihat some lown to as more lespieable than those of the lawless 
adventurers who, in the mad rash foi gold roerrau Pera and nobbed and 
murderer.; kindly hsposed people win imagined theii : : a e aers gods, and, 
therefore. ~ho=e greatest aatala —as are: . ed their superstition 

to soceoz the vipers :e then jwh Attraction. 

the religion :a AtahoaDpe was aar- :a:aa: yet he was aa first wOhnf 
a: listen tc the religious tenets :a his invaders; bat aftei their mtolezanel 
was sc teaeiiy lisplayed, he became indignant and Jefied their god. ar.i 
the at : logy arerarers afterward attemptec to make in the excuse 

of then actions ..y adds contempt tc the infamy :a then leefj 
shows tc what a pass the religious instinct may be brou g ht 

Say 3 Spaniard, am I then to hi a? hie bold! 
Pronounce my fate! You fear a frighten mel 
h you ai - a sc : good! 

You would not wound :he feelings a a nian 
You've robbed and stung :: "rath with ry! 

Speak out! My heart is like the stone that girts 
The mountain there! It knows no fear of patia 
lis schooled to all your cursed mockery 
I am to die? What mortal s] saks it so? 

r5 he forget a God is sc eondemur: 
I am a god to all my people h 
An he. ; a :_ aa the Sun who sets his rule 

arth to liken him in sky 
Do you not fear? h": ! for you a old me once 
Fhat e'en your god — youi Christ, you called his name.- 
He who had ma a and 'hen had eonir tc save — 
You crucified and m him in hi- ; in 

Shall I bettei Eatel I hold your god 

. - nt for anything! I 
a _ L dies not See him gl wing i 
Yonder within the ~:ha-h:r_ "West he sinks. 
He is invulnerable X: -haft can reach 



ATAHUALLPA. 25 

That life ! He smiles : fruition is the world ! 

He frowns, and Storms and Thunders play! He lives! 

He is eternal! Mock him if you can! 

He lit the day on which you killed your god! 

He'll light them till your race is wasted, too! 

I pity now your god! He fell by hands 

He did create and knew not what he wrought ! 

He gave you life and you repaid him thus — 

As you would now repay me for my trust! 

And then you ask me to accept that god — 

Your dead though deathless god that bled and cried 

His ignorance of what he did create! 

I need no feeble efforts but my own 

To help me meet my fate. I would not call 

On such an easy victim to your wrath! 

I'd rather call on stones that senseless lie! 

Like them I'd be insensible to pain! 

You see I know you well. My eyes can see; 

My mind has grasped you in your truer light. 

Behold yourself: You came into my land 

A wandering stranger whom I did befriend. 

You came as did our Sons of Deity, 

In person fair, incased in glittering steel, 

And carrying that within your hand which spake 

In thunder tones to kill as lightning might! 

Our darts were worthless measured by its side. 

You came upon a creature that did cry 

Unlike the sound of anything we knew. 

It pawed and pranced 's tho' fury lived within! 

You called it "horse;" you called that thing a "gun;" 

You called your glittering shirt a "coat of mail!" 

My people were amazed. They thought you gods! 

Great Manco came a stranger; he was white. 

He taught the people much they did not know. 

This opened way for your reception here. 

You were an Inca, too, to simple minds : — 



Or ASi NAJLS. 

The more were they deceived! They tims:: yon 
They treated you as gods. They lavished gifts; 
They gave :heir lands and homes to your abuse! 
You paid them as you paid your god! You robbed 
Them of their treasures, ~::sted then their lar.: is 
Burnt towns, defilr -anctity of homes. 

And desecrated temples of their gods 
You cooly took their lives as though 'twas wrong 
To live and breathe in presri:; - : august! 

vilest treachery you took their king, 
Imprisoned h im and treated him as though 
Hr were a dog! Broke every promise that 
You made. Gave truth and faith the lie! For gods 
We had befriended demons so! Such was 
The picture of the wanderers! I saw 
What moved your heart: I saw your lust for gold. — 
The thing that made you wolfish, was your quest. 
I sought to profit by this hungry greed. 
I wanted liberty. You craved the stuff 
Wherewith I pave my courts and deck my house: 
The stuff of filthy earth that has no use 
Bui ^"hat a slave might find for it: — abuse 
Enough, it seems, to make you hate your word 
Ad stab the little honor you may bot.-: 
I promised you to floor the room with gold 
If you would set me free. You wanted m: 
You stood on tip- toe. marked upon the wall 
And cried. i; This much and you are free." You li 
I filled the room: my ransom fell in hands 
Of thieves who never kept a vr : _^ 
7 i more was raised, and more, and more You fell 
Upon each other; f aught as wolves might fight 
In the division of your spoils! I still 
Must languish waiting vour decree. And 
You come and tell me I'm to die! Where: 
as a fool and trus: 



ATAHUALLPA 27 

You bring your charge: (Invention is not slow 

To such as you!) — That I usurped the crown, 

You charge, and had Huascar killed! 'Tis false! 

I knew not when or how my brother died. 

We were co-heirs to Peru; if I gain 

Possession of the whole, what matters it 

To you? You have my land as well as his — 

Are you usurper, too? Your King and Pope, 

You say, cede you my lands as if they were 

Their own! Am I a tributary then, 

To powers I know not? Who gave them leave 

To me command and scourge me if I fail? 

Your arms are might ; your will is right because 

They are! Why say you, then, that I usurped? 

Can dog prefer a charge 'gainst timid hind? 

Or rogue cry halt with justice to a thief? 

You charge that I have wasted revenues ; 

Hid treasurers that were mine alone, and thus 

Have robbed your Spanish crown! You have despoiled, 

Not I! I curse the shining stuff! I throw 

The sparkling pebbles on the ground! 'Tis you 

Who steal and hide! And why am I here bound? 

Owe I debt of gratitute to you, 

Your Pope or Spanish king? A debt accrued 

From being born less strong? The lamb must pray 

And thank the wolf for feasting on its flesh! 

You say I worship gods that never were; 

Pay rites to blinded faith! Behold the Sun! 

Have you a god like him? You killed your god — 

Kill mine and I'll believe! What fairer test 

Than this to prove your creed? You charge me, too, 

With having roused my people unto strife. 

Would that I could! I'd give my life to such 

A cause! But how can I? Am I not here, 

A captive in your hands? My people move 

With me: without me they move not. I am 



28 OCCASIONALS. 

The head; the body is away and still. 

Wanting direction how and where to move. 

Have you not seen the proof of what I say? 

Besides, should I here harbor such designs 

As you impute, would not I be the first 

To fall a victim to your rage ere I 

Had aught accomplished towards such end? My life 

I would lay down were it the means to bring 

About the end my people wish. But it 

Is not and futile were the dream. To die 

Is not my wish, but I can face your death, 

Though death will leave my people fatherless! 

Pizarro, hear the man whom you have wronged. 

I wish to tell you what contempt I hold 

You in, and how I can defy you still 

And call you dog though in your chains I stand 

And wait the heaping fagots to ignite 

In flames consuming to this body here! 

I called you "brother" when you came to me, 

G-ave you protection and the love of friend, 

And treasures I bestowed on you and yours! 

I found you greed}^, foul, untrue! A cur 

That turned and bit the heel of friend! You now 

Pronounce my doom! What reason do you give? 

A condor would not feast upon your soul! 

I am to die; to burn here at this stake— 

A fool that listened to a lying tongue! 

The man you call your priest, who speaks for god, 

(The god you killed and nailed upon a cross), 

Says I may now avert the fagofs blaze, 

May choke by the garrote whose twist is kind 

And strangles soothingly! — may have this choice 

Between the fire and strangulation's throes, 

If I will but embrace his cross and kiss 

His book and be then splashed with water from 

His hand! Such kindness overpowers me! 



CONSOLATION. 29 

A happy choice! A gracious man, indeed, 
To show such mercy to a hapless one! 
Your god is kind: but you, Pizarro, know 
Him not! He must have died ere you had heard 
Of him! Carved here upon my nail I had 
His name, and everyone who saw would call 
That name until you came. You knew it not!" 
No god, I think, would know you either, now! 
Bring on more fagots! Bind your chains again! 
I'll show you how an Inca meets his fate! 

CONSOLATION. 

[Published 1892.] 

Hast thou not felt some time when faint and worn 
And stifling in the sultry heat of night, 
A cool, refreshing breeze that playfully comes 
To fan and kiss the heated brow as might 
Some Mercy, ere to fetid breath succumbs 

The mortal spark so weary grown? 

It is an angel's kiss imprinted there! 
An angel whom sweet Pity hath brought near, 
By arts unknown to thee, to so behold 
Thy grief and pressing need, bestowing cheer, 
And soothing weary senses to the scold 

Of bitter thoughts that fain would scare. 

Hast thou not seen amid the darkest hour 
That falls to human lot in low despair, 
A passing flash of something sweet in life, 
Which softly lights each dreary groveling care? 
A something that can come to us when strife 

Would blast the heart's benignest power? 

'Tis Hope that flashes then his cheerful light, 
And buoys the sunken soul aloft again, 

* Pizarro could not read. The Inca had great contempt for him on this account. 



30 OCCASIONAL 5 

Where thoughts may revel in the realms of day. 
Forgetting all their ills and throbs of pain. 
And leaving all their doubts upon the way 
That leads from darker regions :: the -light. 

THE ELEMENTS. 

Who can. when seuddin^ Winds sweej by 
To die away with moan and piteous sigh 
Within the woods beyond or on the plains or in the cove of man 

Whe i e F - a r and Wis dom dwell. 
Tell whence or whither, why or what the Thing that rush - 
with roar. 
To partly cool the fevered br _ - wn us if it can 

Within the frothy waters left that Storms did earthward pour? 
D any, Let him tell! 

Ye Elements, come whisper now 
Tell me your essence and your being how 
Ye can remain a marvel yet to prying ey c s and Wisdom's ken. 

Thai knows and delves sc ieep, 
When Earth and all the Space beyond have opened to man's wish 
their range 
Instructing him in Mysterit s ad all they may portend — 
Infinity and Atoms and Beif: truths moi - strs age— 
Your secret I will keet. 

Your secret I will keep until 
I deem it best tc -: aside your will 
tell the worid the object and the cause of all your rage and 
- 1 :m ; 

'-;■-_- — iiizuiiy ye sweet. 
!The land and sea and set the world at naught and baffle Liic an:: 
cry 
As though ye pity felt for death, wr sorrow that your harm 
Can not end all and heap debries in mountains heaven high! 
Like Niobe ye ~eep? 



THE ELEMENTS. 31 

No pitying tear bedews those eyes! 
Those ears are dumb to wailing human cries! 
Ye scorn complaint and laugh at low-bowed heads and suppliant 
hands so raised 
To you in mercy's clasp! 
Your tears in anger fall, and weeping comes to you when ye are 
crossed 
By any of your fellows in the sky, or, God be praised! 
When any of your mandates are rebuked, or actions lost, 
Or victim slips your grasp! 

Your secret I will tell if harm — 
'•Ha! ha!" I hear ye laugh as though in scorn! 
As if ye held me false and weak to truth as any words ye speak, 

When, whispering, ye would say: 
"Come hither, gentlefolks, and meet within the shade of swaying 
trees ; 
The Elements at peace have naught to wrangle o'er or wreak 
Upon your heads! We'll kiss your heated brows with gentle 
breeze" — 
To bring a blustery day! 

Ye once were meek within the wold — 
If we may now believe the story told 
Of iEolus and his great rock-ribbed cave whose portals held ye 
fast — 
Fierce Venti of his storm! 
But who now holds control within your world, or there can 
draw the rein 
To still the maelstrom of your peevish rage, or curb the blast 
That sweeps cyclonic onward with its dashing, blinding rain, 
Regardless of all harm? 

Are Zephyrus and Eurus there? 
And love they as of old that Flora fair? 
Or has grim Corus flung them back and Aquilo now stung to 
death 
The object of their love? 



32 VSIONALS. 

1 Boreas delights in storms, and Xotos in some hurricane 
That wrecks the work of feeble Man and takes his gasping 

breath! 
Do they alone now rule that Realm, or they alone remain 
o will not yield to \os 

Within yon fleecy depth of clouds. 

leh. hung above horizone. seem a shroud 
To nature - wellness and calm, or background to her beauteous 
she""". 

d ngi 1 m] »sts hide? 
Sometimes within ethereal iyries >f :he Winds strange broods 
come forth: 
Sometimes from \ sure skies . : rumbling sound of woe: 

"Who knows but that the King ::>rm and Prince of Peace 

may both 
Be one and there abide? 

3e it a union of this Kr^: and Rag 
Incessant war we find on earth they wage: 
Charge. Aquilo and Auster! Boreas! — brav Z phyr to defend. 
Or Eurus : - retell! 

Simoon. Sii fever-parching breath, mephitic still — 

Can Bluster cool thy reddened sky :>r thy distemper mend? 
Tornadoes will oppose and bless the things that ye would kill. 
II ing much as well! 

At midnight we can feel the breath 

B 11 that spreads so much of death. 
And are. then, thankful if ye will but bring your lightning and 
y ur crash. 
Your thunderbolt to fears: 
Your wildest Elements turn loose beyond the reach of curb or 
s ay i 
The Nimbus of the Torrent squer- its waters earthward dash; 
Your rushing winds, your scudding clouds, your coruscating 



THE ELEMENTS. 33 

Your angry storm of tears! 

Roar, whistle, bluster! onward roar, 
And let your pelting rains descending pour! 
The torrents and the floods that hence may spring to devastate 
the earth, 
Will do some good withal! 
Though sweeping 'way the life that is and all that can not stem 
your course, 
Ye, in creative recklessness ye aim not at, give birth 
To newer Life and Sentiency : perhaps with will and force 
To seize and break your thrall ! 

Most changeable of things that change! 

To note the many phases and the range 

Of elements with you, is past all comprehension's wit to know. 

Your reUdy self is seen 
Sometimes within the azure blue, sometimes in flying clouds of 
May; 
Sometimes in grayish Cumuli that sift the drifting snow! 

In March ye howl and roar and sigh, in April weep each day 

In all the same, I ween! 

Yet Comprehension's wit, though slow 
To grasp each secret impulse so to know, 
In manner, all the manifolds of things within that hidden space — 

Your own unbounded Realm — 
May learn so much of your infinity, the laws which such obey, 
That wisdom's formulae may circumscribe your will and trace 
Each motive to its cause; — or tell us why yon clouds to-day 
Hang 'twixt us, cirro-film! 

Thou Thonar, Tonans, or what-not! 
These modern Thinkers have so far forgot 
Thy thundering-self, and what propitiations are thy due and 
meed 
(Since thou molest them not), 



34 OCCASIONAL*?. 

That they have pointed barbs to catch thy strength and turn its 
flash to light 
To cheat the Gloom the Day has set to space its strides ! Indeed, 
As harnessed lambs they've chained infuriate Winds in all 
their might, 
To call them "Trade," I wot! 

Ye hold deep secrets yet, although 
This prying Science more and more 
Unravels all the mysteries that once enshrouded you from view: 

Your altar desecrates, 
And strips the mounts, lone agons for your feats unseen, of cling- 
ing haze, 
And shows beyond the shifting currents marking the pale blue 
That brings us calm, sunshine and rain, and every varying 
phase 
We once thought due to Fate! 

Keep secret then all that ye will! 
I tell you man will delve and work until 
Those secrets are his own, and ye, what sort of meteoric things 

Ye are in kind, forsooth! 
Your prestige will be known, and ye yourselves base servants 
thence to be 
To Wish and Will, and bear upon your nature's swiftest wings 
Prognostics of the things ye now conceal; and all will see 
You base and know the truth! 



CONEMAUGH. 

[Re-written from the edition of 1892]. 

Conemaugh: A rivar, a town, and an artificial lake or reservoir, situa- 
ted in the Alleghany range of mountains that traverse the western part 
of Pennsylvania. The river empties itself into the Kiskiminitas, which 
flows into the Alleghany River, one of the sources of the Ohio. The town 
was built in a fertile valley on the banks of the river, and contained some 
2,500 inhabitants at the time of its destruction, May the 31st, 1889. The 
lake was formed in a mountain basin by damming the flow of the South 
Fork River, a branch of the Ccnemaugh. In size the lake was some five 
miles long by from one and a half to two miles wide, and the water, in 
most parts, was over one hundred feet deep. The bursting of the dam 
was the occasion of great havoc and destruction to life and property, the 
immense volume of water pouring out of the basin and upon the inhabi- 
tants of the valleys below, with the swiftness, majesty, and fearful force 
of an Alpine avalanche, the entire lake emptying itself in the space of 
one hour, while so sudden and so awful was the flow that thousands were 
caught before they could realize their danger and escape, and so they 
were swept as the leaves of the forest, and struggling in their helpless- 
ness, perished in the angry flood. 



The sun n'er shown on fairer vale 

Than stretched beside the Conemaugh: 
A green expanse, a fertile dale, 

A Tempe of America, 
Its bosom ploughed by rippling stream, 
Peneus of the ancient dream; 
The murmerings of its waters swift, 
As down the rocky banks they'd drift, 
Told of the charms along its way, — 
Of Ease and blushing Naids at play. 
II. 

Blue Alleghanies ranged it round ; 

Stood bulwark to fierce storms without; 
And roaring winds would soften down, 

As scudding thunder clouds about, 
They'd reach this happy vale wherein 
Wrapt Peace and Ease had so long been. 



36 OCCASIONAL^. 



in. 



The streams were filled with fish, the vales 

With nooks for lover's dreams and tales, 

While all the mountains towering high, 

With hazy crests lost in the sky, 

Were clothed in vestures wild and strange, 

Alternate wood and tangled grange 

Whose copse was lair for beasts of prey, 

And game for idle Sport to slay, 

Which spent the time in pleasure's chase, 

And reckoned not the day or place. 

IV. 

And there was met the Wealth of lands ; 

And there was regal Beauty's grace; 
Upon those cliffs and mountain sands 

Assembled once the favored Race 
To pass the hours in listless ease, 
Each varying sentiment to please. 

v. 

Contented man was never found! 

Were dreamed Elysiums full at hand 
His wish would frame some new demand, 

And prove desires are all unsound! 

And so inventive brain, perforce, 

Resolved upon another course: 

Within yon mountain basin stood 

A limpid lake once in the wood; 

A lake Sport now might find of use — 

Who then could dream of its abuse! 

VI. 

Between two jutting mountains where 
The stream meandered swiftly through, 

A dam was then constructed there; 
A lake within the basin grew! 



CONEMAUGH. 37 

A lake of silvery waters clear; 

A smooth, romantic, mountain meer! 

VII. 

It grew and swelled and spread abroad, 

And slowly climbed the cliffs around, 

And rushed into each grotto found — 
And with man's spirit did accord, 
Until a restless wave lay where 
Wild hills and rugged rocks were bare. 

VIII. 

A mountain lake for Sport and Ease, 

Where Pleasure might find much to please; 

Where idle hands and idle wills, 

And thought that idleness instills, 

Could find a pastime for the day — 

To eke its length in idle play! 

Where dream could come and lull the mind, 

And languor soothe the thoughts confined, 

For distance clothed the plains below, 

So fertile in the sunlight's glow, 

With visions of Elysian lands 

Where Beauty sleeps and Love commands, 

Where cities with their industry 

Strive hard some Mammon's goal to see. 

So was the world's contentment sought; 

To this vain end poor Labor wrought! 

IX. 

The dam was long and broad and deep; 

'Twas built within a mountain steep, 

Its face a precipice to see, 

Which waters leaped in maddened glee, 

To fall in cataracts below 

And wake the echoes with their roar! 

And thrift made use of reckless Ease 



38 OCCASIONALS. 

And built its towns along the stream. 
And Wealth, its servants then to please, 

Lent profit to poor Labor's dream. 
Towns swelled to cities, and the vale 
Was as a garden ; long the trail 
Of Progress with its busied life, 
Where all is bustle, struggle, strife. 

x. 

Perhaps thrice ten and thousands more — 
No one can tell, no one can know — 
In May of Eighteen Eighty-nine — 
No dream of wrath or Wrath's design — 
Resided in that mountain glen; 

Drawn there by promise of reward, 
To share the ease that might have been 

Had fortune smiled its full accord! 

XI. 

On South Fork and the plain below, 

A village stood whereon a glow 

Fell from the lake which lay above, 

As though a smile of welcome love 

There rippled in its sheeny waves, 

Reflecting ail the golden rays 

The Sun bestowed to light the shade 

The falling Twilight soon had made 

Within the bosom of the vale, 

Where mountain shadows, ghost-like, trail. 

XII. 

Then Mineral Point and Conemaugh, 
And Woodvale, too, lay not so far 
Below upon the stream that led 
From lake above and onward sped 
To greater waters yet ahead. 
Johnstown with all its suburbs stood 



CONEMAUGH. 39 

On that same stream whose waters could 
Turn turbines for the millman's use, 

Or fill canals or other ways, 
Or cleanse the city of refuse, 

Or shoot aloft in fountain sprays! 
For Wealth had reservoired its flow, 
And rainbows sparkled in its glow! 

XIII. 

The Iron-furnace blast was seen; 

The boiler-maker's ring was heard; 
The tiller toiled and sung, I ween, 

His tuneless song with deed for word. 
The artisan applied his rule 

And fitted timbers joints with joints; 
The happy children home from school, 

Would play and scamper on the points 
That jutted in the laughing stream, — 
Without a thought, without a dream 
Of coming danger when that shore 
They trod upon would be no more! 

XIV. 

Fate holds its secrets well on earth! 

Some festal hours were given mirth; 
Some died, some married, some had birth; 
And love beheld them grown in state 
And manhood up to man's estate, 
Crowned with the honors of the day, 
Crowned with the things for which men pray: 
The hum of healthy Life rang on, 
Fate frowned and hushed its cheerful song! 

xv. 

A Friday dawned — the last of May — 
A dank and lowering, gloomy day. 
Yet naught it presaged of the doom, 



-40 OCCASIONALS. 

With all its drizzling rains and gloom. 
That soon would fall upon that scene 
To wreck and sweep each vale so clean! 

XVI. 

The towns lay in the valley there, 

To rumored danger gave no care; 

The louder cries of Wealth and Trade 

TTere heard and sooner far obeyed. 

Each to his calling early went ; 

Each on some duty closely bent ; 

The noon-day found them still employed — 

The night the thing they wrought destroyed! 

XVII. 

A leak was found that early morn! 

Like gargoyle fulf of wrath it spat 
A broken spray within the dawn : 

And naught had watchers seen like that! 
Then workmen ran to make repairs — 
Too late for aught save shouts and prayers! 
And G-od and these poor workmen knew 
That waters in the basin grew 
And rose a foot with every hour. 
Until no earthly hand or power 
Could hold or stem such flood as then 
Rolled in that upper mountain glen! 
Still worked they on until the flow 
Rushed o'er the dam with fearful roar: 
And then that mud-daubed thing of man 
Slow swayed and trembled through its span. 
And. bursting from its base and stay. 
It let the waters have their way! 

XVIII. 

One could then note the plains below; 
One could then hear the hum and roar 



CONEMAUGH. 41 

Of Progress as it onward moved ; 
Each industry that such approved. 
Could see the blasts from chimneys blaze; 
Life with its every changing phase ; 
The dwellings ranged on mountain side, 

The fields of verdant, growing grain, 
The valley stretch of rolling main — 

All waiting descent of the Tide! 
A tide to sweep them in the sea 

Of wreck — and Immortality! 

XIX. 

Alarm was given but the word 
Was treated as a thing absurd! 
Swift runners ran and cry was borne 
By blasts from many a mountain horn: 
In vain, in vain, such could not warn! 
For speech had come so oft before, 
And falsely proved, that none could know. 
So when the warning came that day 
It moved no heart to feel dismay! 
They went about their business still 
Relying on the workman's skill. 

xx. 

'Tis said one held to clicking key 

Till waters in their raging glee 

Swelled all around her where she stood! 

'Mid terror and the water's wreck, 

The key-board sounded "Quick! be quick! 

The dam is down! the flood is here! 

Its roaring waters I can hear! 

And death awaits those who may stay 

Within the valley here to-day!" 

And many heard who'll never know 

She perished in the rushing flow, 



42 GONEMA UGH. 

At duty's post, at duty's call. 
That message just before her fall! 

XXI. 

A Paul Revere knew its import, 

And saw the frightful sweep and heard 
The laughing waves as in mad sport 

The tossed and sunk, nor heeded word 
Of G-od or Mortal who might pray 
For less of ruin this fatal day! 
He mounted steed in valor's haste; 
He cast an eye upon the waste; 
He whispered to his heart. --Be still!" 
He nerved his soul and set his will, 
Then onward sped with flight of fear. 
His eye undimmed with sorrow's tear, 
Heroic all to save the rest 
Although his own. his heart confessed, 
Were then beneath the Flood and Wave, 
There struggling in a watery grave! 

XXII. 

"Run for your lives! that hero cried; 

"Run for the hills and there abide! 

"For see? the Flood, the Flood is here! 

- -And all you love and hold most dear 

"Is lost, is lost, if you linger here!" 

The rider dashed through street and town, 

The gaping people thronged around! 

Some whispered. "'Tis a madman, sure, 

And some one here he may allure!" 

And others laugh t and cried. "Ha! ha!" — 

Themselves were fools! They did not know! 

XXIII. 

The rider with his steed sped on. 
His will was set ; he would vet warn 



CONEMAUGH. 43 

Some wiser one of coming doom, 

Of water's waste and slimy tomb; 

Of wave swept vale where once had been 

As fair a sight as e'er was seen. 

Like warning angel onward flew 

This herald, while a death-like dew 

Of froth bespread his noble steed; 

Both struggled bravely in their need — 

To halt and fall on roadside bare, 

With no reward for all their care! 

And horse and rider silent lay 

"While waters o'er them dashed their spray! 

XXIV 

Two men upon a tower stood, 

Awaiting for a signal there 
To move their train. They saw the flood, 

And heard a sound fraught full of care: 
A dull and distant, rumbling roar; 

A sound that could not well deceive, 

A sight which sense could scarce believe, 
So full of dreads unknown before! 
It was from that blue lake so far 
Above — the lake of Conemaugh! 
They saw the dam there crumble, fall! 
An hundred feet of liquid wall 
Came toppling down on plains below, — 
On fated villages to pour! 

XXV. 

No nameless rider then was near 
To speak a word of warning fear! 
Their locomotive stood near by ; 

Its venting steam told of its use; 
No time had they to warn those nigh — 

Self -safety spoke as their excuse! 



44 COXEMAUGH. 

XXVI. 

They loosed it from the cumbrous train; 

Its throttle-valve they opened wide; 
They dashed a down the valley plain — 

Self-preservation fled the tide! 
A glance behind revealed this fact : 
Their train was washed from off the track! 
And their companions roused to find 

Themselves at mercy of the Wave 
That swept from earth such feeble kind! 

They saw. but none himself could save; 

Each struggled, but sank to his grave! 

XXVII. 

That iron creature onward flew 

To save its trembling, frightened crew — 

Its crew of two. who left the rest 

To sink or swim — or do their best! 

These feeling then but one life need: 

Of speed to save them, only speed! 

XXVIII. 

They heaved into its throat of fire 

The vulcan stuff on which it fed; 
Its tongues of flame licked with desire 

The black food in its ember bed. 
It breathed and snorted blasts of smoke 

And scalding steam and sparks of fire, 
While every mighty piston stroke 

"Was leap to "scape the Water's ire! 
Aroused it seemed to all at stake: 
Destruction surged within its wake! 
From pilot there the trembling men 
Beheld the ruin and its trend: 
Beheld the houses crush and fall 
Beneath the Avalanche's wall: 



CONEMAUGH. 45 

Beheld all things to rock and sway. 
Upborne by waters — washed away! 
And heard the stifled wail and cry 
Of him the Deluge caught — to die! 
No hope was for poor mortals then ; 
E'en doubtful to those fleeing men 
Was such a ray of comfort found! 
For with its maddest leap and bound. 
Their Steed of iron was gained upon — 
And Death might tell who victory won! 

XXIX. 

With desperation in their will, 

They strained each bolt and valve and rod 
The engine bared to searching skill! 

"Help!" they cried, "O, help us G-od!" 
And by the village Mineral Point, 

And o'er the bridge at Conemaugh, 
And through the town of Woodvale then, 
And down the shady, verdant glen — 
The engine throbbing every joint, 

Its tender rattling with the jar — 
They fled with breathless haste to find 

Some place of refuse from the rage 
Of angry torrents unconfined, 

And Life the prey and Death the wage! 

xxx. 
They reached the bridge below Johnstown — 
But there another horror found! 
The way debarred from further flight! 
A train stood there within full sight 
Upon the track that led away — 
They could not gof they could not stay! 

XXXI. 

A rugged cliff stood near at hand: 
They leaped from out the cab and ran 



46 CONEMAUGH. 

And scrambled up the rocks — to see 
The place they'd left was one wild sea 
Of drifting wreckage in the lea! 
The train and locomotive all 

Was swept as so much trash that lay 
Within the channel-bed that day! 

And sights and sounds did men appall! 

XXXII. 

How throbbed the heart there doomed; what woe 
Then wrung the mind, no one can know! — 
Save him, perhaps, whom Fortune flung 

Within the path of that wild Tide, 
That he a moment might be stung 

By Death, but instead death denied! 

XXXIII. 

Laocoons of false prophecy 

Had long prevailed against their fear; 

And Faith believed that all were free, 
While Danger drew more near and near! 

Who had not heard, who did not know 

The dam could hold the water's flow? 

And, unconfined, what torrent wave 

Could wreck when foresight all could save? 

And yet their doom upon this day 

Was even then upon its way, 

And waters in the basin grew 

As if instinct with this one view! 

xxxiv. 

Some who had lived long years before, 

Once saw the waters overflow 

And break the walls which held them there; 

But then the plains were wild and bare, 

Unsettled save by beast and bird: 

Yet now to speak a warning word 



CONEMAUGH. 47 

Incited laughter! — so the Tide 

Broke on them in their pompous pride! 

xxxv. 

The roar and crash brought all without 
And filled the air with shriek and shout, 
And broke the heart with grief and woe, 
For in the waters rush and flow 
They saw the dearest things of life — 
The husband saw the weeping wife, 
The wife her husband and her child 
Swept into utter chaos wild! 
The parents all that hearts held dear — 

The lover and the lover's pride — 
What profited a cry or tear? 

No power could stay that rushing Tide! 
A doom of fell Destruction then 
Was sweeping clean that mountain glen! 

xxxvi. 
And on it came so unawares 
It found reclining Ease in Chairs, 
It found the merchant weighing wares; 
It found its prophets full of cares! 
Of cares because no one believed ; — 
Themselves and loitered, thus deceived! 
To market and to church men went, 
On business and on pleasure bent; 
The car-bells jingled on the street, 
And patter, patter, sounded feet! 
The tinsel and the things of state 
Were bought and sold, and loud debate 
Was heard within their walls — when Fate 
Swooped down upon them in its hate! 

XXXVII. 

And there was Wit, and there was Mirth — 
A happy christ'ning and a birth! 



48 CONEMAUGIL 

A minister was reading prayer; 

A bride and groom before him stood: 
The Deluge found them kneeling there, 

And bound them as no banns e'er could! 
It bound them in the bonds of Death ; 
It took away their gasping breath, 
And made for them an instant grave, 

And heaped them o'er with chapel ruin 
That fell before the madden'd Wave: 

A wreck of Life and Hope ensuing! 

XXXVIII. 

The instant of its burst so found 
The people doomed. Its rushing sound 
Awoke them to their dreadful fate — 
Awoke them, but it was too late! 
And frightened faces filled each door, 
And there was rushing to and fro, 
And there was wailing and distress, 
And woes on woes, but no redress! 
And people fell upon their knees 
And prayed to God that so it please 
Him, stay the rushing tide of death: — 
And thus they yielded up their breath! 
And mothers tore their bosoms bare, 
And smote them in their wild despair; 
And Manhood clinched its hands in grief : 
But naught could save or bring relief! 
And bustle, jostle, everywhere, 
And shout and oath and cry and prayer, 
Were feeble all to save them there. 

xxxix. 

And timbers falling in the crush 

Would dash men's brains upon the ground! 

And then the bodies on the rush, 

Were washed and eddied round and round 



CONEMAUGH. 49 

Amid debris and froth and blood — 

The playthings of that furious Flood! 
And to the drifts clung man and beast, 
While struggles wild their fears increased; 
And screaming babes to drifts were bound, 
And mothers rent their clothes and wound 
The shreds in cords themselves to save; 
And husbands in the frothy wave 
Sought babe and mother and would bind 
The drifting chaos of mankind! 
With futile efforts wasting breath: 
Their labors paid with throes of death! 

XL. 

And thus the Deluge swept along 
And hushed each cheerful sound and song, 
And thus it found the people then 
Who lived within that mountain glen! 
And on its floods the houses swam, 

Before its flow high steeples fell, 
And crushing in the frightful jam 

Were mangled forms no eye could tell ; 
So recognition turned aside, 
While all bereft saw loves and cried! 

XIL. 

And Heroism rose and strove 

To save the drowning, but the tide 

Dashed feeble efforts all aside, 
And onward to destruction drove! 
The bodies floated swiftly by, 
Some screaming, others hushed to die! 
The winds alone, to catch that sigh 
That goes with parting breath — the Waves, 
Like demons laughing, gave them graves! 

XLII. 

The day now crept into the night 



50 CONEMAUGK 

To hide its face from such a sight. 

A twilight full of horrors fell: 

So full of sights and sounds of hell ; 

So full of shrieks and dying groans; 

So full of roaring waves and moans ; 

So full of drifts and sinking men ; 

So full of life Love would defend! 

Lit up by lurid, darting flames 

Of burning wreckage! — cruel flames 

That licked the face of Life and Death, 

And glowed its embers with the breath 

The gasping mortal gave to die: — 

That fed upon the fainting sigh! 

A funeral pyre, a holocaust 

Of burning creatures doomed and lost, 

Whence weird shadows fell around 

So ghost-like on the trampled ground! 

Each spectre as Apollyon bent 

To catch the Soul thus given vent! 

A twilight of such horrors fell, 

No pen nor tongue can ever tell. 

XLIII. 

And slow the night crept on in gloom 
While Death prepared his slimy tomb; 
And never darkness hid a sight 

More fearful to the human eye 
Than weltered in the slime that night 

Where waters piled the bodies high! 
And thieves came out and picked the dead, 
And dogs upon the bodies fed; 
And owls awoke the mid-night air; 
And all the world was in despair! 

XLIV. 

But all must move with Time; and Night 
Itself eked out in gloomy plight. 



CONEMAUGH. 51 

The grayish light that come with day 
Showed dessolation where once lay 
The thrifty towns then held the pride 
Of Pennsylvania far and wide. 
Like mantle to the dead, a mist 

Hung o'er the valley to appall; 
Nor sun-ray broke the cloud, nor kissed 

The brow of ruin which would recall 
What once had been but was no more: 
A spectacle all must deplore! 

XLV. 

The waters had receded though; 

And down the hills and to the shore 

Where foamed the banks of Conemaugh — 

The once pure, limpid, Conemaugh, — 

The wailing crowds trudged through the mire, 

With one impulse, with one desire 

To find and rescue from the flood 

Whatever hapless one they could ; 

To seek the loved ones from them torn — 

Perhaps away forever borne! 

To clasp once more, though dumb and dead, 

Their dear ones from that slimy bed! 

XLVI. 

And there the horrors full were seen; 

And there they gathered dead on dead, 
And bore them to a mountain green, 

And laid them on a grassy bed. 
And thousands came and thousands lay 

In stiffened grime upon the clay. 

XLVII. 

And where the flames were seen that night, 

And where the deepest groans were heard, 
And where the weird Shadow-light 



52 CONEMAUGH. 

Moved through the gloom like phantom bird, 
Or black-winged Azrael intent 
On tearing open bosoms pent. 
There was a heap of rubbish found — 
Debris piled up of all the town! 

XL VIII. 

A drift it was and funeral mound 
Of miles extent, and wailing; sound 
Still told of all the dying Life 
Beneath its mass! The air was rife 
As well with crackling flames and smoke 
That darker human horrors woke, 
As realizing in that pyre, 
So slow consumed by smould'ring fire, 
Was Life well skewered there to wait 
A roasting death! more dreadful fate 
Than waters threatened in their rage — 
Most dreadful that the thoughts engage! 
And holocausts gave stifling scent, 
And people who the hours'd spent 
Through deluge horrors doing good, 
Now fainted o'er the sight and smell : 
And Fancy shudders yet to tell 
What then was seen in dale and wood! 

XLIX. 

Behold! mad Tides, your wreck and waste! 
This valley once so fair to view, 
Filled with the fruits that Labor grew, 

And rife with teeming Life — to-day 
No semblance lives by which to trace 

The once fair builded public way! 

L. 

Where towns once stood, now puddles stand! 
Where fields of grain, now barren sand! 



CONEMAUGH. 53 

The monuments of men are down 
And lie in rubbish on the ground! 
And scattered are thy tokens, Love! 
And o'er the "wilderness" a "dove" 
Could scarcely find a leaf to show 
The truth Omnipotence doth know 
Is justice to those here below! 

LI. 

Bedraggled skirts now tell the tale; 
And eyes and face of heart's travail; 
And matted hair of beauty's scorn, 
And pallor of distempers born 
Within their grief, that soon must bring 
Them death: the final end and sting. 

LII. 

Crazed are the minds that once were right! 

Black are the thoughts that once were bright! 

A pall o'erhangs the vision now 

That once throbbed in a cherry brow; 

And mooted sorrow and neglect 

Have killed the faith and due respect 

These people held for G-od above — 

His watchful care, His mercy's love! 

His gilded Messages of Truth 

They heap in piles and burn, forsooth! 

LIII. 

In apathy all move around ; 

They hear naught save some gloomy sound! 

Their eyes on vacancy are bent, 

Their hours in listless wand'ring spent ; 

They heed no sight save when a bier 

Bears some one on it once held dear; 

Bears some one whom they knew in life — 

A strickened husband or a wife; 



54 XEXAUGH. 



A parent 

IJLrT fie 

3r}.:- sin 
And this 
A momen 



. ^ 



tiiis :'. : : ::. 

: .red and losl 



_:_-::_ zove is rh-z-ZJi lost in muj-.It 



VT^ roo:i ;: He: ::.i: oi^.ou jot 

T e read Pompeii's doom. I wis 
Nc ::-::- i-lvsm e er _ ?. s set 

S grave a mark on life :-. - I hi s 

LV. 

~E~yi.z'~ '-'- know that to; tisanzls ilea 
Xor that the unidentified 
Are heaped in graves where atoir to. 
Stands forth memento of their doom— 
The epitaph ••Unknown" to mark 
Thr oskos ::' a thousand stark 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

[Republished and corrected.] 



Over the Portals of the Temple of Delphi was written, 
TNO0I SEAYTO'N. 



HOW SPEAKS PHILOSOPHY. 

The world is all a glamour and few men 

See but the faintest glimmer of the truth: 

Their lives so full of dreams that actions pass 

But noise and clamor to disturb the sleep 

That lulls existence into quiet rest. 

Realities as boding nightmares come, 

Presaging hurts and ills and damning thoughts ; 

While hid from eyes of man is that great Truth 

Which speaks of Life and Death and Destiny — 

Wherefore to hope, why fear, and how to live 

To cheat the grave of early victim fell 

Upon the roadside of its youth ere age 

Had taught it wisdom, how to bear its load, 

And what reward would pay it for its task. 

In lieu of all we find a foolish faith 

In things unknown, loud clamoring for a Cause, 

To dim the eye of judgment to the fact 

That Life is real, and Death a sure fiat 

Bespoke of all by Her of whom we are, 

And whose fixed fate we, too, alike shall share! 

For does not science say, and prove it, too, 

By facts beyond our ken to say them nay ; 

By suns and planets dead it verifies, 

And colder Universes in the skies, 

Whose systems are in waste, no heat, nor light, 



56 PASSION'S PAXDEMOXIUM. 

Nor breath of air to stir the frigid Night; 

And by convulsions here within this globe. 

Which writhes and groans and belches forth its bile. 

Sick unto death as any other child — 

That this fair Earth whose bourne we vermin tread. 

Will have its day. to sicken then and die 

And swing in Space the corpse of all it is? 

The Heaven we would have we have on earth. 
Though ail our dreams but serve to picture one 
In realms too fanciful too limit bonds: 
Unreal: unsound; the vaguest of the vague! 
For as we live so is this Life to us. 
In fact most real, in fancy most unreal. 
Thrown >fi our guard by visionary things, 
What shield have we to turn the darts of thought 
Since wills are weakened by the plea of wish? 

If Faith be such a shield then wear it still! 
Xo friend will war against your happiness. 
Too little all enjoy! But duty still 
Demands your charity: and. too, that grace 
Which would bestow on others happiness. 
False theories have broken many hearts 
And set the world to wrangling o'er its doubts. 
Contented not till fires consumed the lay 
Whose honesty found courage to speak out: 
But what availed it all? It did not prove 
One postulate professed: and now we say 
All were deceived and knew not what they taught ! 
Know we so much then. now. that future age 
Will not smile o'er our vaunted wisdom, too? 
And wonder at our ignorance and the Faith 
Which we proclaim as demonstrably true? 
The world doth harbor many faiths to-day 
Of every hue and cast — which one will live 
To prove the others false and ring its truth 
On heart-strings strung of all in unison? 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 57 

Enough that this variety can be 
In things of faith as well as in our song. 
But what a world it were should all prove true — 
The Fetich and the Saint, sore Doubt and Faith, — 
Oblivion and Life which knows no Death! 
In mean time let the world live as it should, 
In battling wrongs and succoring well the good — 
When it can so distinguish 'twixt the two! 
For here the Sages still with each contend, 
And prove from facts observed or facts divine, 
Their several warring Faiths — to you and me — 
While we observe and contrast what we see. 

HOW ANSWERETH LIFE? 

A house whose turrets leap like griffins wild 
At some imagined foe within the clouds; 
Broad terraces that circle here and there, 
To wind 'round turrets, wings and ells and domes; 
A lawn that stretches expanse broad and green, 
Where winding walks are wreathed on either side 
By blushing flowers ladened with perfume, 
Where gurgling fountains spray their liquid breath 
To cool the atmosphere oppressed with heat, 
And where the great trees tower with their arms 
Upstretched to heaven, leaves as surplice raised 
To Deity for blessings most benign 
On all they house beneath; a moon-lit sky 
Whose orb the dancing clouds so fain would hide; 
A redder gleam from doors and windows wide — 
So is the picture seen to eye without. 
Within all is as beautiful and grand 
Though framed and fashioned by a lesser hand. 
Lights there meet lights and their refulgence blend 
In radiance to smile the Night away, 
While Music with its charms awakens Sleep, 
And swells the bosom with its lusty sighs. 



58 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

And, mad with pleasures, all the world tip-toes 

To catch a glimpse of Love — and there he goes! 

Hate, speechless, stands aside, and Care withdraws 

Into the shade the niches still conceal, 

But sees it all and darkly broods it o'er. 

Pride saunters forth and gazes on while smiles 

Tell truly what he feels amidst the bows ; 

And Youth with agile step leaps o'er the floor 

To find a partner who can pleasure share, 

And Beauty lags but to be coaxed again, 

While Envy stares, then turns to her beside: 

And Mischief giggles to see Envy tried! 

The Passions tread the boards to-night, I ween, 

And dawn will find them here as twilight did, 

The hours then chased away with airy step, 

No eye bedimmed with sleep, nor none that slept! 

One thing now Wisdom sees and cons it well: 

In haste Youth borrows of old Time to pay 

It back in dotage, which ripe Age deplores : 

And he, alone of all, this scene ignores. 

But hovering on the outskirts of the scene 
Are others who have taken yet no part; 
A lingering gaze tells of the interest felt, 
A doubtful look of some form of restraint. 
A subtile charm has drawn them to the spot, 
But there by Prudence held they take no part; 
For though their eyes dance with the lights they see, 
Their steps are laggard to the tripping prance. 
Among this group stand Truth and Faith and Fear, 
And Trust thrums languidly upon the sill, 
So unresolved what course 'twere best pursue; 
His pleasure there, his duty here; his will, 
Wrapt in so many vagaries, in doubt! 
So Prudence falters in his course, and Fear 
Forgets his qualms, and Faith feels stronger faith 
And fears not wrangling Doubt should he oppose; 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 59 

And Truth can live a truth no matter where! 
With Pleasure in the balance all can see 
What will soon come of Self-denial, too. 

Some maids who long have watched this modest crew 
And wondered at their reticence, now turn 
Their rogish eyes upon them full and draw 
Their harps and sing in voices sweet and clear, 
This siren song; while speak the strings such notes 
That wake the voiceless Night to words of love: — 

THE SIREN'S SONG. 
Come join us in our merry round 

And help us pass a happy hour; 
Come trip to love's entrancing sound 

And sip the bliss of Cupid's power. 
No pensive thoughts shall wills incline, 
For souls shall dance to strains divine! 

Come join us in our sport and play 

And help us to what hearts can please; 
The night we'll pass in roundelay, 

The morning come with hours of ease ; 
And pleasures shall remain to pay 
The homage due the coming day. 

Come join us and we'll sing delight 

To all that's dark or gruesome is; 
We'll touch the cord of love aright, 

We'll ring its dulcet tones of bliss, 
And sound its depth, however low, 

In quavers of hearts bounding so. — 

Reluctance dies with song, and to his place 
Comes every one Unit Lingered there without. 
For who could Btand aloof in times Like this? 
Or steel his hearl againsl sweet Fancy's will? 

Soft eyes have won, ami softer music swells 

Rebellious souls to pitch of harmony; 



BO PASSION'S PAXDEMOXIUM. 

And all res Lve is set aside for loi re 

Comes Pear with firmer tread, and Faith with Trust — 

The" >'■ ris tc Vice and Lust and Scorn] 

While Truth and Sham meet here on friendly ground. 

And Sir Discord hears soft and dulcet strains! 

A welcome rings from lip to lip and heart 

And swells throughout these bi ..'.. deep corridors 

O'er this great concourse of quiescent wills 

Here held in charm : more militant without 

And [ >ised to each, than earth's most distant poles! 

The victory the maid= have won with song 
And roguish eye. nor clamor for return — 
Both song and glance and, gathered 'round, the throng 1 
Joins voices strong and leej k sing these words 
Methinks d: echo through the livelong night: — 

THE ANSWERING SONG. 

We come, sweet maids, to an~~:: song and ey 

Who can withstand the charms your words proclaim? 

Who can rebel when woman smiles . sig 

Who would withdraw when she w old pleasures name, 

And bid us welcome, too. with Love lit eyes? 

RUB. 

Llant and gladly 

We come to the rally 
i hearts and ..: ""id- we've tuned them to Lease 

Beauty be: 

Music in chorus 
We laugh to find Folly an innocent tes 

W r pass to and fro 

In the dan: as 
Sad _ ng >ver the floor — 

Give us a partner! 

Great is the honor 
Maid with kind wish :n us can bestow! 

We Dom - : maids, to sd. _ with you this spell: 



PASSION'S PAADEMONIUM. 61 

We come because we can not linger there 
And see you here when Love would softly tell 

How sweet it is to be with you and share 
The fullness of this hour with its swell! 

CHORUS. 

Airy, not wary! 

Why do you tarry? 
Your eyes and your lips proclaim your desire! 

Youth is before you — 

Passions ignore you? 
Join hands and give vent to the pent of youth's fire! 

You swing and you twirl 

As you dance, and you whirl 
Around and around o'er the floor with a girl! 

What wonder the lover 

Feels here like a plover 
A- winging his way through the ethereal world! 

We've come, sweet maids! No lagging spirit here! 

We've come to join you in your feast and dance. 
We've come rejoicing in your smiling cheer, 

Which, like some Sun of life can so entrance 
The soul and free it from its gloomy fear! 

CHORUS. 

Maid sweet and pretty — 

Close now and steady — 
You cling to the bosom of him that can love! 

Your bright eyes have won us ; 

Brave Cupid has stung us, 
And deep is the shaft in our hearts, little dove! 

We tripplingly glide 

In the dance side by side, 
And in transport of joy we speed and we ride! 

Come, Love, now and tell 

What you think of this spell — 
Will it cease with the hour, or with us abide? — 



PA S SI OX " >■ PAX DEM ONI CM. 

Though song is done the music does not cease 
But sounds in quavers still in hearts attuned. 
While word re-echoes word to souls en wrapt! 

The mingling here of Honor. Lust and Love. 
And all the passions strong and frailties 
Of Man — Trust and Despair. Envy and Truth. 
Hate. Scorn. Contempt, with Vice and Misery — 
Seems most repungent. Yet why act they so? 
The reason not too plain that goes to show 
The world's hypocrisy! for something moves 
The spirit here found in no false desire. 
So smile and Bow. shake hands and pass around. 
Presenting those unknown to one and each. 
And. happy, all pair off in chatting t wains. 
TVho take opposing places on the floor 
In marshaled line arrayed, face fronting face. 
The music sounds again and all is lost 
In merry winding mazes of the dance. 

And now. oppressed with heat, a couple steal 
Away to find some cool, refreshing spot 
Beneath the trees that tower in the lawn. 
Or near some spluttering fountain whose sweet breath 
Breaths love itself, yet cools the fevered brow. 
Now. following, others go until the dance 
Stops for the nonce to give them all a breath. 

There strolls fair Beauty with Sir Sham: and there. 
Arm linked in arm. Love moves with soft Desire. 
TVish hearkens unto Lust whose words are low. 
And Innocence is left alone with Vice! 
Beneath the light that shines within the hall. 
Sweet Mercy smiles on Spite, and Charm ignores 
All gallant knights save dark-browed Insolence! 
'Tis Gallantry, indeed, and Courtsy met 
To honor Passion's call and crown good Peace. 
The marble corridors are full of vouths 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 63 

Of every taste — a bland and motley throng 
Brought to one point without the clash and din 
Of Elements! 

To view the sight comes Truth, 
For he alone of all the rest can see 
Them as they are, stript of Style's garniture! 
He notes the face of Wonder as she spies 
The promenading loves, and marks mistrust 
In her swift glance; he catches Prudence's stare, 
Which says as plain as words, "Why are no bounds 
Set here to limit Want and youthful fire?" 
He sees the eyes of Hope light those of Trust, 
As they, conversing in the shade, stand back 
To let good Faith and gloomy Doubt pass out! 
And Fancy holds the boards with Mirth and Wit, 
While Cheer still rattles on with cold Remorse! 
Now Anger seems un wroth, and sore Distrust 
Converses some with Justice, some with Scorn: 
Truth sees all this, but further still his eye 
Doth search for others yet. He would espy 
All Passion's devotees at once and learn 
What secret impulse moves them here to-night. 

Led on by this desire he turns about 
And runs across lone Wisdom standing where 
The scene is full before him with its life. 
He, too, it seems, would know what moves the throng. 
And so with purpose now he has withdrawn 
To note and so compare that which he sees. 
To him speaks Truth, who feels a kindred mind: 
" 'Tis you I find alone in all the Qrowd 
Beside myself. Why is it so? Feel you 
No charm, nor thrill that would, obeisant, bow 
Your will in due respect to all you see?" 
Wisdom to him, with sage philosophy: 
"Thou mighty Truth, forget not truth's true meed! 
We are withdrawn from all the rest, 'tis true, 



64 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

But not alone; for see? Old Hate lurks there 
Beneath the shrubs, and Care withdraws him, too, 
To spy out other cares, while Pride disdains 
All else save Flattery; and she has left 
Him now to go with Envy there and look 
Apt Mischief up, who will bring dark Despair 
To Fear, and Pity to Contempt ! Esteem 
Has found no mate, though Admiration's eyes 
May linger there awhile, and Piety 
Finds Honor cold indeed! Poor Charity 
Looks for consort but finds alone Discord! 
So viewing, think you now that all is known? 
Benevolence moves there without a friend — 
If we may judge from loneness of himself! 
And Wickedness hides not his smirking sneer 
That follows Friendship, Hope, and others there! 
As truly honest he as are the rest, 
Because he hides not that which fills his breast!" 
Truth would return, but Brag and Cant appear, 
Each boasting o'er some conquest made or won 
With poor Simplicity and dull Eegard! 
And Folly joins them now and they defame 
All whom their logic failed to so convince. 
And Malice overhears and smiles as pleased, 
While Slander whispers things unduly bent. 

An ear were much astounded could it hear 
All that is said by Passions mingled here 
In friendship's guise, beneath Charm's flag of truce — 
Who else were but so many enemies 
That wrangle when they meet without this pale! 
Lust pleads his cause, and Wish some virtue's lost, 
And G-reed steals off with dark Eapacity 
And finds Incontinence within the shade! 
Desire embraces Love, which Virtue sees 
And shudders as she gives her hand to lead 
Sweet Innocence away whom Vice pursues ! 



PASSIONS PANDEMONIUM. 65 

Suspicion on vile thoughts is wont to dwell, 
And Malice is not loath, — still, with the rest, 
But momentary thoughts are all of these 
And vanish as the music strikes again — 
Which now it does to break the interim 
Whose wanton use the Wills can not forbear. 

A song now calls them to the dance again, 
Which, as a bugle blast, they all obey : — 

SONG. 

Come dance With me! 

My partner be 
In this grand march quadrille; 

And you can see 

How happily 
Love can soft trip at will, 
When souls in union thrill. 

While music sounds 

The heart rebounds, 
And Pleasure has its fill: 

Let none forbear 

To help us share 
This joy which can instill 
New life in pleasure's thrill. 

Again upon the floor they gather 'round 
To dance the hours away and banish Care. 
The pale moon wanders on ; the fleecy clouds 
Bank over near horizons dim and low, 
Where, hov'ring in vast crowds, like pirates moored, 
They bivouac in ethereal seas of night, 
And set as sentinels the lightning's flash! 
A storm forebodes at early morning's wake: 
But little care the inmates of the hall 
Who gather in due season for the ball ! 

Joy is the dance, and Pleasure's nimble feet 



66 PASSION'S PAXDEMONIUM. 

Skip lightly to the harmony of song, 
Nor reckons one the time till midnight strikes. 
Yet even these loud clanging strokes that shake 
The gloom of Night in speaking Day's farewell. 
Announce another Morn, and bring a sound, 
As well, that creeps into the list'ning ears 
Of guests assembled here to speak of cheer. 
A silver gong taps softly for the Feast 
Which is prepared and now at hand to serve. 

The passing hour forgot the throng moves out 
In double file and march to banquet spread 
"Where glare and glitter show profusion set, 
And rich aroma tempts the appetite. 
A hall more rare in taste and splendor matched 
Than was Belshazzar's in the days of yore: 
Nor was such kingly fare e'er set before! 
Around the snow-white boards whereon flash gold 
And silver plates, where viands steam, and fruits 
"Would tempt the taste to plague a Tantalus, 
The guests now march and take their places there. 

The host presides, but Love rules 'round the board, 
And to his will confiding couples bend; 
E'en Taste and Appetite his nod attend! 
This course and that succinctly disappear, 
And guests more gaily grow at each excess, 
Till Mirth and Laughter swell in loud uproar. 
"White-liveried grooms with filled decanters come, 
"When burst with one accord from lips this song: 

THE BACCHANALS' SONG. 

The Banquet's spread: bring on the bowl! 
Come join us, girls, and help us share 
The feast and brimming cup of cheer! 

The world without may frown and scold; 
Who knows? who cares! Its wicked leer 

Disturbs the heart whose faith is cold! 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 67 

HEALTH. 

Clink the glasses; clink them well! 

Let the music sound and swell 

Hearts that may forever tell 

Of this sweet, entrancing spell. 

To the woman fair and sweet, 

Whom you here perchance may meet ; 

Partner of these happy hours, 

Whose sweets are freshets like the showers 

That bring the bloom of early flowers; — 

To her health we drink with joy, 

Happy were we but a toy 

She might fondle or annoy! 

To her health we drink, drink, drink! 

The day is done. The evening shade 

Is lighted by the chandelier, 

Whose golden rays soft linger here 
To trip like some wild, elfin jade, 

With giddy whirl and smile demure, 
Along a court-way esplanade. 

HEALTH. 

Clink the glasses; clink them well! 

Let the music sound and swell 

Hearts that may forever tell 

Of this sweet, entrancing spell. 

To the hour when no grief 

Shall disturb or mock belief; 

When the heart shall know its choice, 

Where to choose and when rejoice — 

Lulled and tempered by Love's voice — 

To such happy time we drink! 

Conscious, too, of all, we think! 

From no duty do we shrink; 

So then let us drink, drink, drink! 

The light of heart we bid them come. 
Come grasp our hands in friendly shake, 



6$ PASSION'S PAXDEMOXIUM. 

And of a cup of something take! 
Say corn-juice, rye. or brandy-plum! 

"lis ills alone that make us quake. 
And not this sparkling win- of Hum! 

HEALTH. 

Clink the glasses; clink them well! 
Let the music sound and swell 
Hearts that may forever tell 
Of this sweet, entrancing spell. 
To the wise man who can show 
Deeper pleasure than we kn: 
Hides within this brimming cup. 
[Which we linger o'er and sup. 
Till its contents are drunk U] 
To his health now let us drink. 
Lest we falter, stop, or think. 
Or with nod and knowing wink. 
"Wait too long to drink, drink, drink ! 

When Bacchus came the Grecian maid 
Came Lagging to his sport too slow; 
But give her now his ruddy glow! 

Betint her cheeks a deeper shade! 
The mark of Youth and Health a_ 

Can lauo-h at ills and measures staid. 

HEALTH. 

Clink the glasses; clink them ".Tell! 

Let the music sound and swell 
Hearts that may forever tell 
CM this s^"rr:. entrancing spell. 
To the Sun-God of the vine 
Who has brought us cheering wine. 
Draught of bliss to drown each ill 
Life imposes on us still — 
And each chalice here we fill — 
To his gracious power drink. 
Till we cross life's dizzv brink: 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 69 

Nor from living terrors shrink 
While we all can drink, drink, drink! 

The Orgies o'er we'll seek once more 

To find a partner for the dance : 

Bright eyes enough for all a chance; 
And graceful, too, with tripping toe! 

The wee small hours we'll step and prance, 
And with the morning kiss and go. 

HEALTH. 

Clink the glasses; clink them well 
Let the music sound and swell 
Hearts that may forever tell 
Of this sweet, entrancing spell. 
To the art Terpsichore, 
Left as heritage of Fay! 
Amble of the heart and feet, 
Where all joys can mingle, meet, — 
Youth with maiden coy and sweet; 
To this art we sip and drink, 
Happy that a binding link 
From remoteness down, we think, 
Chains our wills to let us drink! 

Decanters turn to fill the glasses full, 
And clinking bumbers tell the guests have joined 
To drink the health of all who know a toast. 
A sight it is to make old Bacchus glad, 
And could he here upon his thyrsus lean, 
He would be loth to part from such a scene. 
No Theban king forbids the revelry; 
A Pentheus were unwelcome now indeed, 
Though Fate, mayhaps, would find a lighter doom 
Than met him in the days agone which gave 
Him to Agave's scornful wrath! 

No one will scorn Silenus so to-night! 
Sobriety e'en lips the cup of health, 



70 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

And Banter jests with Drunkenness whose leer 
Eeflects the deep effects of many drinks! 
Now Languor starts to grasp another cup, 
While Jest, in happy mood, essays to joke 
The efforts of them all for some control; 
And Frailty loud giggles as she reels 
To fall in Frenzy's arms, who frowns to see 
His cup dashed to the floor, its sparkling wine 
Bedashed o'er him to spoil his ball attire! 
Gay Gallantry refills the cup of Greed, 
And Error falls into his ways reformed — 
Drinks to excess again, and smiles to drink! 
Fame touches lightly, but, with Flippancy, 
Is drawn too near the brink of drunkenness ; 
And Fraud with Giddiness, hilarious grows, 
And both speak ribald in the face of Pride! 
Caprice makes room for Cavil and Chagrin, 
Who drink her health ere Clamor has a word. 
Decorum seeks Defiance who, with Brag, 
Salutes and waves the glass to drunken Bliss! 
Contempt finds Malice joined with Slander now, 
And petty griefs enough to speak his hate; 
But Wish restrains the will for something more, 
While Anger watches features of Distrust. 

Maids, matrons here, and gentlemen, all meet 
To mingle in the pastime of the hour, 
And naught is left to do but drink and eat; 
The which, as if a wager had been made, 
They fall to with a will and nothing spare! 
An hour passes by in gluttony, 
And yet the tables groan beneath their load, 
And still the guests remain around the board 
To drink and eat and crack their weary jokes, 
Or sing their ribald songs, and laugh to sing! 
More boisterous grows the company each round 
The toast is drunk, and soon a bedlam sound 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM 71 

It is that greets the ear: the pop of gin, 

The rattle of the wares, the noisy hum 

Of voices, laughter, shouts and songs ! The din 

Of Pandemonium, indeed, nor heard 

Elsewhere save in some Babel here — or feast! 

But soon to surfeit all will surely come, 
When they must then abandom what is left 
And seek some other pleasure than found here. 
But few now wish the change, and those who do, 
Know little how to broach the subject right. 
Intoxication seeks, with blinking eye, 
So piebald once, but now is luster dim, 
To spy out Dalliance whom he would fain 
Ask for more time that Greed might be appeased 
Ere they returned to ball-room and to dance. 
Depravity is drunk, and Arrogance 
Feels, too, the heat of drink, though not yet drunk. 
Assumption scorns to own how much he feels, 
But grasps at things intangible to touch! 
The stagger and the swagger Drollery sees, 
And quirks him when a thyrsus he would make 
Of chair, or man who comes within his reach! 

'Tis rare to sit and watch the drunken reels, 
And see the burdened men and women pass, 
All bearing that they came not with, but full 
Of spirits now that peace will surely wreck. 
'Tis rare again to note the mixture here, 
And how they meet and pass and mingle in 
This social gathering of strangest odds! 
A likeness sure exists in appetite, 
If nothing else, and this unites them now, 
And holds them at the board till satiate 
E'en G-reed and Hunger are; but ere they move 
To leave the feast, Keluctance sings this song: 



72 PASSION S PAXDEMOXICM. 

SONG TO DIONYSUS. 

Good Dionysus, let us drink! 

Street Dionysus. let us drink! 
Fair son of Semele. we dine 
Upon thy fruits and drink thy wine! 
Bestow thy smile 

Upon us while 
^Ve eat and honor thee and wine! 
No foolish maids are gathered here 
To scofi :r mock thy rites or chef. 
The seed :: Minyas were dead^ 
Ere they had Loved, or ere they wed' 

No scornful smile 

Can yet beguile 
Them in their cold and lonely bed! 
Their stories told availed them naught. 
For they thy own displeasure sought. 
And thou on them did justly mete 
The fate of bats who at thy fete 

Once scorned to drink 

Thy wine. :>r think 
Thee worthy of their time or meat! 

But smile upon us. son : Jc ve! 
For those von see here give their love 
To thee and bless thy gifts and time 
Thou camst to earth, fair God of wine! 
We'll drink thy health 
^nd bless the wealth 
That sound the goblet's silver chime! — 



Fresh impulse leads them back to drink again 
For wine t trij :hem up and k ~ them prone. 



* Alcithoe, Aristippe. z.~-i Luecirre. :he :hree fair is.~g~z-.ers :i Minyas. ar. 
Boeotia, were rimei i:: zs.zs. ;•: \z ; :: = =.?.;."= :;:;;?; r'-ey ;::rr.e: the ri-es of 
the new introduced EgypriBr. g-:-i :f ir_r.ker.-e = 5. 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 73 

Or base G-arrulity to loose their tongues 
And set each Sentiment at variance. 

The din grows louder yet ; fine spirits^flow ; 
Loud laughter wakes the midnight hours, while songs 
Re-echo all around to send a throb 
Of discontent into sweet Silence's dell! 
To-night the Passions hold their carnival, 
And Pleasure claims reward, and Joy has won 
The circling Hours to favor with their time! 
He who will not partake must get him hence, 
Beyond the sound of all this gayety. 

Come with good Leisure all the Sentiments 
And Passions of mankind to take some part 
In this phantastic fete; and now they look 
And guess and marvel at the sights they see, 
While feelings indescribable excite. 
Who would have thought the Good and virtuous Wise, 
The Weak and Strong, the Vicious and the Vile, 
Could mingle so — a strange, incongruous throng! 
And thus the motley crowd, a pot-pourri, 
Reflects the many shades of man's desires: 
To Wisdom, 'tis the sum of Frailty; 
To Folly, 'tis the height of human fame! 
They both in error fall ; for sure we know, 
Combined, they are the attributes of man ! 
The battle in his bosom which doth rage 
Between the G-ood and Bad, the Weak and Strong, 
Poor Ignorance and Truth, the Right and Wrong, 
Is miniature to this tumultous roar, 
Which is, itself, the sound of Sentiments 
Not well defined, and less so understood! 

Amid the drinking throng some sprites arise 
And fling aloft their bumpers filled with wine, 
Which, quick descending, fall upon the rest 
To splatter crimson stains on board and dress! 



74 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

This Anger rouses to the pith of Force, 
Who seizes Hate, and he then onto Sport : 
And Malice, soon, and Jest, are locked in arms, 
Which Clamor sees and raises loud his voice! 
'Tis come to woe if nothing here can part 
These frenzy-fired spirits now engaged! 
But Wisdom beckons Order, who, with Love, 
Restores good cheer ere further trouble comes; 
And so reseated all resume their drink. 

Now Fear comes forward, trembling much with fright 
Not sure the trouble's over, nor the fight 
So quickly quelled which threatened to break out 
And bring them all to blows and to disgrace. 
To Honor he goes first, who hears his plea, 
And thinks it not unlikely he is right, 
Since wine has filled the heads of all this night. 
These two, now seek out Patience, who, retired, 
Is listening to the words of Policy. 
In wild-eyed wonder Terror stands aside, 
But keeps his eyes on Violence whom he sees 
Conversing with Profanity and Spleen! 
Propriety and Prudence linger where 
They can see all yet be themselves unseen; 
And well they mark the mood of Madness now, 
Who, with Misanthropy, is drinking still, 
Oblivious to the tumult raised around. 

The gentler ones are hushed or whisper low; 
And grouped together find we Faith, Caprice, 
Despair and Innocence with Piety ; 
And Charm disdains her looks, and Beauty's eyes 
Are filled with silent tears she would repress, 
And Mischief holds her tongue, and Mercy sighs! 
And Pity's pleading eyes now turn to Spite, 
Who looks at Wonder, Joy, and Sorrow there, 
And hears the voice of Flattery so low, 
That speaks to Virtue of Regret and Mirth. 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 75 

Desire sits yet with cup in hand as though 

Naught had arisen to disturb the feast ; 

But Meekness feels the pains that Pleasure does, 

And Chastity is wounded in her pride! 

But still Deceit smiles over at Chagrin, 

And points to Coquetry who speaks with Brag, 

With all the guile and humor as her wont. 

Mid all the bristling scenes fair Apathy 

Still leans in negligence upon the board, 

Her eyes half closed, her ruddy lips so drawn 

To show the pearly teeth they fain would hide, 

Did not her gentle breathing bid not so! 

A sight it is, indeed, such rest as this, 

When Peace has gone from all of those around 

And hic-coughed Drunkenness has come instead! 

So Truth and Wisdom come together where 
The lights fall not on them but on this scene. 
And there in consultation they decide 
Upon a way recalling Peace again : 
That he may set aright these muddled wills, — 
At least, soothe them until the break of day 
When one and all will homeward take his way. 

The plan is this: The feast shall be removed, 
And to engage the crowd each will some speech 
Deliver that his thoughts may frame the while. 
And speak they this to Prudence and the rest, 
Who soon agree, and, mounting there a chair, 
Pride thus speaks out: — "Let all here harken now! 
A feast we all have gathered to and shared, 
And praises to our host are due for it — 
Which we will thank him for when time has come. 
But now ere we resume the dance again, 
What say you to a speech from each one here; 
Beginning with the one whom lot may choose, 
And so continuing till all have spoke 



6 PA s SION ■ S PAKDEMOXI L M. 

Or Wish has called a halt to further speech? 

A speech in which the speaker tells his tale. 

Of how he is. and how he came to be 

The creature that the world finds him to-day? 

A banquet this, like Agathon*s. you see.^ 

Though called not here in honor of some task 

So worthily performed as did he his : 

Yet here is force enough, and. mayhap. "Wit. 

To tell of things the world were rich to know. 

Thouo-h now no Socrates were here to show 

The fallacy of arguments and shams 

That pass for facts. What say you *e speak?' 

A buzz is heard among those gathered round 
As if the Queen of Sound were now unhived: 
But each one to his neighbor nods assent. 
And night of Peace recalled to witness it. 
All are much pleased and readily agree. 
Anticipating each his time and speech ; 
How he can best preface his character 
And plead a reason for his mode of life. 
The question now arises. Who'll begin? 
Each wishes to be first, for Pride has said 
• -It is the place of honor to be heard 
Before the rest: for sure it will imply 
He chosen first is fittest to speak out 
And mark the channel for all other thoughts." 
As all can not begin, and some one must. 
A lot will now be cast to pick him out : 
And Love is honored with the call to speak — 
He from the first the hero of this Night. 
The rest now gather 'round to hear his words, 
Their voices hushed though spirits still run high. 
Due to the maddening heat of Bacchus' wine. 

*Told in the Banquet of Plato. 



PASSION'S PANDElWONIUM. 77 

LOVE. 

When bright-eyed Love first came to earth 

Mankind was not, or still in infancy. 
No laws existed then to quell, 
Or stem the rapture that should swell 
The bosom o'er the lowly birth 

Of her destined the heart to sway! 
But Life sprung up and teemed its kind, 

And Souls gregarious felt the need 
Of kindred bondage, which should bind 
And hold together two of kind 

In daily walks of life; this meed 

Love promised all, and such bestowed, indeed! 
For when the heart has opened to her spell, 

Or when the head has bowed before her sway, 
There Happiness has found a place to dwell, 

And there will Hope still linger on and stay 

To light the hours of Doubt, forecast a Day! 
Tradition tells us many a tale 

Of how she came, was born, or sprung 
From froth of sea, — beyond the pale 

Of Earthly God or Deity! 
Her need the parent of herself, and she 
The Mother of all else in harmony! 
The quick of Life, fair Panderer, 

Strong cement of those souls divine 
That ne'er a Vulcan's net might wear 

But youths would spring of lineal line 
Commensurate with the godly pair! • 

She came to fill Want's vacancy, 

And leave replete the Earth and Sea — 
No further need we care. 
'Twas not when Jove, deceived in earthly sons, 

Sent countless ills compounded in One fair,* 

^Pandora, the gift of all the Gods to Epimetheus. She was the Eve of the Greeks. 



78 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

To basely man deceive, — the trusting ones 
To fall in bitter strife and deep despair 
That one so fair should such misfortunes bear; — 
The goddess sprung not there! 

Nor did she first in Eden's shade 

Walk after Adam and his Eve were made. 
E'en ere they were she was, and then 

The world was rest, and Peace within 

Begot no progeny of Sin! 
In truth, I this can say: 

Titanic wars had ne'er been, 

Nor fell a Lucifer in Sin, 

Had mandates of sweet love prevailed 

Against Ambition which had failed! 

Wherever known, such is her rule, 

The Weak and Mighty fare alike! 

The Proud and Haughty she doth strike; 
And weeps the Sage as any fool! 

A gentle heart some mast'ry proves ; 

The Weak the Sterner softly moves — 

Such is the power of her who loves 
E'en in this day and time. 

The G-ods have wept when it has proved her will! 

And man's wild thought she can subdue and still, 

Or fire them fiercer yet to let them thrill 
With her soft cooing chime! 

We see the stamp of her decree 

Marked in man's early destiny 
That fashioned many a Life; 

The first of men with consorts fair 

Who basely forfeited their share 

In Paradise and every care, 
To leave the world their strife! 
So comes this bitter life, 

Which were a Pandemonium sure 
Of fallen Saints and Devils, too, 



PASSIONS PANDEMONIUM. 79 

Did not all conquering Love innure 
The heart against things most impure, 
And curb the range of Strife. 

Cold History were doubly chill 
Had Clio sought alone to fill 

Its pages with the deeds of men 

Without a word or scratch of pen 
To tell us of Love's victories! 

'Tis true we here may bring this home: 

Wars Love aroused and wars subdued, 

And hearts dethroned and hands imbued 

In blood from some fierce, fatal feud : — 
The one was Troy, the other Rome! 

Or peoples since who felt the fire 

Of youth and lovers' mad desire! 
Though Trojans labored many years 

To cheat the Greeks of Helen fair, 
Who now regrets the tide or tears, 

Since Homer wrote it down with care? 
The soul new bounds but to peruse 

Again, again, those sterling books, 
Whose stories even yet enthuse, 

And take us back to sunny nooks 
Where dwelt the heroes great of yore! 
Love this bequeathed if nothing more: 
A monument of classic Lore! 

But Roman history can speak 

Of Love which proved itself most meek: 

For warlike arms were laid aside, 

And peace embraced in honor's pride, 
When Sabine wives, strong in their love, 
Forgot their grievances and strove 

To reconcile contending hearts, 

And teach them to forget their smarts. 
First clung to kindred, then to those 



80 PASSIOX'S PAXDEMONIUM. 

Who stole them ere allotment chose 

Them husbands from the guilty throng. 

Who would pretend to say Love here was wrong? 

If up to Plato's time, as he declared, 

Xo song was sung to Love, which is divine, 
What wonder that the world had then so faired 

That Virtue fell debased to shrink and pine? 
For only as sweet Love has graced the^world 
Has mankind been redeemed, who else achurl 
Had stalked this life, too giddy with its whirl! 
But music is the song of Love, 
And finds its counterpart above 

In refrains from some golden harp 
Whose strings are touched by Gods alone, 
To sound the laugh, the sigh, the moan, 

That comes from man, soft, dull, or sharp — 

To be re-echoed on the harp! 

Before Plato the cymbal's sound 
Awaken'd joys to leap and bound 

Within the bosom then of man: 
The song was Love's though words disdained 
To speak of that the will restrained; 

Confined within they riot ran 

Among the passions of the man: 
Now, bursting forth in harmony, 
The words will ever ring for me! 

We love with Sappho, and her song 

Still stirs the pulses of the times. 
How can such tender love be wrong? 

Or why should we be deaf to her sweet chimes? 
Leander lives again, a hero bold. 
Though, drowned in Hellespont, his clay is cold! 

A Hero waits her love — foreshow her not 

That hero dead: beneath the waves to rot! 
The gates of Hell could not debar Orpheus when 



PASXION'S PANDEMONIUM. 81 

Eurydice" was taken thence to that abode: 
He knew no fear, nor force save Love's, so then, 

With harp in hand, to the Infernal Shades he strode, 
And Cerberus was drowned in songs of love, 
And gloomy Pluto stirred to thoughts that strove 

To picture fairer life, 

Than Love with strife. 
And music much of gloom there did dispel, 
And Pluto straight resigned the maid he held, 
Captive to him whose song had wrought the spell! 

To sing the song of Love's conquest 

We must sing to each heart's contest; 

For every page that History turns 

Discloses him whose soul still yearns 
For comfort sweet to life, 
To still or soothe its strife; 

And love alone you'll ever find 

Is panacea of the mind, 

A treasure that can forge and bind! 
So were the world a Paradise this day. 
Did Love abide with us and not Dismay! 

I spoke of Love first as a maid, 

A thing of coyness, sweet but staid; 
Next as a stately matron was she known, — 
A Venus sure, of wantonness, I own! 
And then the scene is changed and Love is I, 
Of opposite sex, the which you can't deny! 
Explain this fact, you say, if that I can, 
The why and wherefore that I am a man? 
The need sometimes doth suit the instrument 

To its own use when much is to be done, 
So that the force to do may not be spent 

Ere that the object in itself is won. 
This love is instrument, and force of man 
Is here required to finish godly plan! 



82 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

The stronger nature broke the chain when all 

The strength of union lay within the will 
The weaker vessel held for love"s recall; 

And so the sex was changed with reason still. 
Unlike the fate of mad Hermaphrodite 
Whom Salmacis had clasped in arms so tight. 
This love — that bathed in founts of different sort 
Than pools within the woods which rain had caught — 
In fountains of Desire, it may be said. 
Whose waters by the Springs of Life are fed — 
Embraced Youth there: the two grew into one: 
And that one came from thence a godly son ! 
For him you may thank all the gods above. 
Love is perpetual youth, and Youth is love! 

Loud claps the Host in commendation here. 
And many of the guests join in applause. 
A truly noble speech ail would admit. 
Did not some bias purposes forbid. 

Though Friendship and Desire, and Wish, and Lust. 
Approve the speech of Love, not so Contempt. 
Nor many of the others, who descant 
And point the egotism in his speech. 
For did he not praise self to such extent 
That others in compare were base and low, 
No matter what their motives and their deeds? 
'Tis true a binding force lies in this Love; 
'Tis true the world is happier by its leave; 
'Tis true that all the moral factors live 
Within its pale: and binds it Friendship, too; 
'Tis true that Love is this and something more: — 
But then his speech embraced too much! So think 
The other Passions who are deemed less great. 
Or if so great, less morally inclined. 

Here now Debate uprises: follows Spite, 
Then Clamor, too: and there dark Insolence; 



PASSION'S PAAWEMONIUM. 83 

And that wild scene but just now happ'ly quelled, 

So threatens to break out again in force 

Redoubled by the lapse of time, and wrought 

To greater frenzy by the fumes of wine. 

Amid the swelling clamor Reason speaks, 

To vainly try explain the speech of Love, 

And why this misconstruction of his words : 

"To speak one's own right praise it was agreed. 

And each should have his time ; and no offense 

Would Wisdom take to self of what were said. 

Self-praise is indiscreet, as all must know, 

If said without regard to truth or fact ; 

But Love has spoken naught save what, indeed, 

In calmer moments all would him accord. 

To raise a clamor now bespeaks ill will, 

Or argues that who does is sorely hit 

By random wit, intended none to hurt." 

Abashed all are at this and none demurs, 
Since a demurrer were acknowledged hurt! 
And quick to take advantage here, I ween, 
Ere some contending Passion finds his speech, 
Or thinks of reasons to defend himself, 
Good Prudence rises for another speech. 
And so Regard to Beauty makes his bow, 
And prays that she will now but follow Love, 
As fittest of them all assembled here. 
She, blushing, looks at Vanity and Fear, 
But catching eye of Courage, mounts the chair: 

BEAUTY. 

If all will bear with me I will 

Complete the story Love begun. 
For you can see unfinished still 

That story is though it were done 

As lone concerned the godly son. 
But yet is does not speak of her 



84 PAS SI OX'S PANDEMONIUM. 

Whom Fate has destined to incite 
To fullest measure of his cheer. 

Or rouse to action jealous Spite. 
To speak of Love, you speak of me, 

For I am consort to his wish; 
And when he came, it was to be 

A slave to Beauty's whim and wish! 
A complement to Love I am, 
Alike chagrined at Fraud and Sham! 

A consort. — mother too! For when to earth 
He came, 'twas Beauty then that gave him birth. 
Thus linked to him I am by all the ties 
A human heart conceives, or friendship tries. 
Inspirer, too. of that sweet charm 

That moves to rapture every soul: 
Who deems me else, does self a harm, 

Nor knows the pleasure I control; 
For happy am I all to please, 
Nor would I Innocence once tease 
To practice fraud, or learn the arts 
That win or lose confiding hearts. 

All barren would this world soon be 
And sear as some vast, desert sea — 
A sandy waste, a treeless lea, 
Void of the stroke of Harmony, 
And Love as well — if not for me! 
The blossom of the rose I am; 
The recompense of every sham; 
In Life's swift wheel the only cam 
That stays it for the draught of love; 
Or draws the eyes to things above, 
Where Love is painted in the skies, 
And heart-throbs echo human sighs. 

Ah, ; "beauty is a fleeting good ; ' 
To him alone who can not see 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 85 

All things just as he would! 

For sure the impress ought to be 
One of some pleasure, not what's left 
Of loneliness bereft 
Of all that makes the battles worth 
A snap we wage here on this earth! 
How fruitless were our toils if they 
Received no recompense or pay 

Save toil and Ugliness! 
'Tis Deity that hides within 
And urges man to strive and win 

The grace of Comeliness ! 
For Mind and Body, both, will reach 
For Beauty's form or Beauty's speech — 

The goal of all success; 
The pith of Enery and Strife, 
The charm that wakens into life 

All virtue, I confess! 

Love is awakened by my gentle touch 

To bow before the angel of his heart ; 
The fire that lights mine eye is as the Torch 

That brings the Day and opens with a start 
The slumb'ring Forces hushed in mystic gloom, 
To weave the fabric Fame in Life's swift loom: 
Which shuffles off, unconscious of the Man, 
Or sloth or deftness of his moving hand! 
Quick, too, like Phoebus, with my glowing light, 
I move the Soul to rapture and delight — 
All to behold me, Beauty, in my might, 
The fairest Grace on earth in Heaven's dight. 

The fire that glowed in Cleopatra s eyes 
Was Beauty's own, and hers the wanton sighs 
That led, as captive, Caesar in her train, 
And shackled Antony as with a chain! 
Aspasia's beauty moved great Pericles 



86 PASJSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

As nothing else could move, and his decrees 

Are monuments to her and her wise sway — 

And models are they e'en to this day! 

To whom we owe orations to the dead, 

'Twas well that he by Beauty should be led. 

The beauty of sweet Psyche gave her love! 

The beauty of fair Io, that of Jove ; 

The beauty of proud Juno made her Queen, 

While Aphrodite's face is to be seen 

In all the precious things this world can own: 

So gladdens every heart where Beauty's known! 
'Twas Phryne once who gained release by so displaying charms, 
When Judges sat upon her case in apprehending harms — 
Incited to take action by some hideous one's alarms! 

'Twas Beauty won her victory, 

And Beauty set her free! 

Who would deny themselves Love's fairest charm? 
Who would despise her who can do no harm! 
Who would debase the Bloom of all the earth, 

And pluck the blossom but to tear and shred 
The petals from the stem, to leave it dearth 

Of all its charms — a crooked stick, quite dead — 
While no return is made for all its worth? 
Such would the ravisher of Beauty find 

Eeward for acts he deemed as Wisdom's own; 
And Ugliness would thenceforth bring to mind 

The folly that his hands would fain disown. 

When cestus binds the loins of helpless maid, 

Reciprocating unrequited love, 

It is the gift of Venus from above 
In form of beauty — balm to love betrayed, 
Whose due possession is the magic girt 
That wraps the waist of Modesty and Flirt! 
Let all who hear my voice this much then know: 
Co-eval with fair Love is Beauty's show; 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 87 

Which was, and is, and always will be guide 
To Passion's heart, and Vanity and Pride! 

Here sore Disgust breaks in on her discourse, 
And mocks with scornful words her many boasts; 
And Envy coughs aloud and asks Disdain 
If he has ever heard the like before. 
He answers with a frown; and Slander speaks 
Within the ear of Spite, and Jealousy 
Is busy with her tongue, — as you can see! 
Hypocrisy now smiles, but such is lost 
Within the face Assumption turns to her — 
So blank it is of innate grace or charm! 
And ere she can again refix that smile, 
The stare of Insolence has changed her face! 
Brutality looks grim, and Mischief wears 
Grave frowns, which Humor would laugh off but fails; 
And his light jests are changed to scorn and grief. 
Here G-allantry would have a word to say, 
But Ardor knows no bounds; himself would speak 
In praise of both ; against Disparagement, 
Whose words are heard from everywhere at once! 
Delight finds no delight in all the noise, 
Yet fears to speak less she offend Offense! 

Misanthropy has roused him from his drink 
At hearing words expressed of friendship, love. 
It is his duty here — or so he thinks — 
To straight impeach the word of any one 
Who foolishly affirms this friendship's right, 
Or love for fellow-mortal held is just. 
Mistrust perceives him rise, and Terror, too, 
Who flees with Silence, Mirth, and shuffling Wit, 
To sheltered nook where they may hear his words 
But still in safety be and undisturbed 
By what he says or does: for him they fear. 
Misanthropy is not alone aroused, 



88 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

But Hate, and Anger, too. and likewise Scorn. 
And Malice, and Caprice, and all the rest 
Ignoble held by Justice and by Truth. 
But ere this son of Hate can voice his thoughts. 
Or gather well his wits within his cause, 
Speech is begun by Scorn, who thinks himself 
Too much abused oy Beauty and her Love: 
So silencing them all. we hear him say : — 

SCORN. 

To be so classed as Beauty tain would tell: 
Ale inmate of this • -deep-mouth, scornful Hell": 
A fit companion with vile Shades to dwell: — 
It is a little rough, but Beauty speaks it well! 
Such is the fate of him who has not eyes 

For Beauty all alone: 
And who is not subdued by love and sighs 

To bow before her throne! 

'Tis pity Love should be 
So miserably 

The slave of Beauty's show. 

When Truth this knows full well. 
And facts can tell. 

What shams support her glow! 

If stripped of stolen worth 

Es rth would deny her birth! 

For Ugliness exerts her art 

To deck Miss Beauty out so smart! 

Once Socrates to Theodota said: 
■•Ought we to feel obliged to you and praise 

The beauty which you show? or you to us. 
Since we with love and admiration gaze 
Upon that self to bruit it in your praise? 
For by this latter turn you make new friends. 
TVho will, perforce, assist you to your ends. " 
It were a fair reminder Beautv should 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 89 

Forget not whence her worth, nor where the good 
Of all the charms she boasts of. If an eye 
Were given Love to view her as the lie 
She knows she is, such worth would pale and die! 

My purpose is to open well all eyes 

To see her as I see her, full of sighs 

For those things which to Virtue are the due, 

And never to a vain, immodest shrew. 

The guile that would the innocent beguile 

The face of Beauty mantles with its smile, 

An Ugliness is beauty in compare 

Without the lying flush or hoiden stare! 

With all the varied shapes of Proteus, 

This Beauty takes a form; deceit to us 

To whom she would appear forever fair, 

And lead us, blinded, into her set snare. 

Poor things of frailty you must admit 

Both Beauty and her Love ; nor seem them fit 

To delegate them power, since we tad 

Sad instances recalled now to the mind 

When strength lay in their hands which they abused, 

Nor profited themselves by force misused! 

'Twas Cleopatra's beauty that reduced 

Brave Antony who half the world could rule! 
Sunk low in love and by wish so seduced, 

The basest Roman scoffed at the poor fool! 
And what availed it all? When Roman arms 

Had scourged his followers, and put to flight 
The minions of his queen, his own alarms 
Brought home the bloody dagger (which in fight 
He'd failed to use), to strike him in its slight! 
The guilty queen, then, by an aspen sting, 
Soon followed him: so died the charming thing! 

When carnage on the plains were strewed 
'Round Ilium's walls, the mangled slain 



90 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

Told but one tale: How Love had wooed 
The fairest of a beauteous train 

From all the ties that bound her true 

To him whose spouse she was and rue. 
But Beauty and her Love — suborn of Lust! 
Lost to their honor, soon despised the trust 
The noble king had left within their hand. 
And guiltily they sought another land — 
To stain with blood its sacred soil and sand! 
Thus Discord with her G-olden Apple comes 

To jar the world again with fruitless strife, 
To break into the sanctity of homes 

And rob the fireside of the charming wife! 

If Aristophanes was right. 

It was some Love that caused the fight 

That bathed the Peloponnesian shore 

In seas of liquid ruddy gore: 

Sima?tha. though a courtesan. 
Much influence wielded over man; 

And when Athenian youths had stolen her. 

Her rape Megaeran youths revisited 

Upon Aspasia's women who were dear! 

And Pericles, to whom Aspasia fled. 

G-rew angry and declared the war. 'tis said! 

And so does trouble come wherever mate 

This Beauty and her Lord of low estate! 

'Twas Socrates who said that Love was born 
Of Poverty, who. from ripe Plenty, stole 
The seed of Life — whence he is now so bold! 

Xor think I that old Socrates was wrong. 

For needy still Love is. always to long 
For that which Plenty greedily can hold 
From him: Want's fit companion and his scold! 
This son Dione gave to Jupiter, 
But cleansed him not while in the sea with her, 

Though laving had been need of decency. 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 91 

And water might have oped his wisdom's eye 
Ere he had come to fall a victim blind, 
By Beauty made the dupe of all mankind! 

Ah, verily! A Venus Pandemos 
That caters to the passions of mankind! 
That mixes love with vice to serve it us — 
The salmagundi of a guilty mind! 
And when affections profit you you are 
A bright example of some meekness rare ; 
But when the thing's accomplished otherwise 
Your love, as Ariadne's, swift in flight, 
Has found some other love or better prize : 
And so the first is changed within a night, 
And thence some Dionysus is delight! 

Now comes a pause, since Scorn has ceased to speak, 
That bodes some ill to all ; for he has said 
Much that will fire Contention up, and set 
The minds of all to brooding over that 
To drown which was the cause to speak at all. 
Too true, Love has been vain, and Beauty sharp 
Of tongue, and they should have forseen the end 
Their words would lead unto and so avoid 
The thing to give offense. But it is passed, 
And Scorn has used his lance and bled the;wounds 
Afresh that Prudence failed to heal! 

A gloomy frown seems hung above this pause; 
And Peace stands out before the frightful shade, 
As some pale calm before a roaring storm. 
The frightened stare in utter hopelessness ; 
The fiercer shoot their fiery glances round 
As challenges to him who would begin, 
Or speak again in slightest terms of them. 
Inflexible and stern, poor, shivering, weak, 
That vacillate between their hopes and fears, 
Are face to face, and Disregard has loosed 



92 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

All Passions from the rein- that bell, them .iownt 
What mediating Sain- . .-.u some between 
These rash or fearful souls beyond restraint? 
This question fears an answer, for it s r - 

No houe within the ::. :-s zathere: . :v.n ;'. 

_ 

Bv — iue made net :e. :t anger bla ;1: with scowl, 
lis bold intent to dc i fci ambling feai 
Of that which may be lone, that answers here! 

In this dark moment of impending ills, 
While pale Expectancy knows not how soon 
The thunders of the Storm will drown the shrieks 
Of bedlam raised within proud Pa ssic d s hall. 
The soul is sunk in self to be abhorred 
By vileness found therein, which long has slept 
In full security of bland Deceit 
The ilainzlmg shades :■: many thing- nut; Id 
Arise to plead excuse, or pardon crave 
Ere eyes of ail the world alight on : hem 
And thus i: is that Pity would bewail 
The many cruel things each one has done. 
Forgetting not to mention hidden things! 
And to the quick is many a soul deep pierced. 
But while this would deny or that confess 
The charges so preferred, all were aroused 
Tc shane Is exuosed. and vainly sought 

To turn the speech ;/ y r break its foi - 

A hapless time Recrimination chose 
To in ge pc m Pity on : : such an end 
TV h e n all the Passi n - are upon the q uick 
O: sharp retort sc res :ly, too, with wrath. 
To charge and counter-charge their grievance- 
To any end Distrust may lead them to! 
Those who have fallen low. as Pity said. 
Feel here sting recalling all their wrongs: 
What arts were- mce misused in their down:; 
What promises have turned : bitter gall; 



PAS STOATS PANDEMONIUM. 93 

What hopes are wrapt in cerements now of Death, 
That base Deception promised them for all 
The pleasures of their youth, which they foreswore 
For such a life as falls now to their lot! 

Shame finds no blush to hide acknowledged guilt, 
So boldly frowns each accusation down, 
And turns himself to Hate and wounded Pride, 
Resolved to cower Truth or stir up Rage 
To such a pitch that Honor will be drowned 
In all the tumult raised, his charge unheard. 
To thwart this rises Justice, who commands 
The Virtues to defend the cause of right, 
And let the truth prevail although unmask 
It may the hidden secrets of the Soul! 

Poor misdirected Jest, with Impudence, 
Now turns to Arrogance for reasons why 
His looks are all so dark, for surely none 
Has hinted that Suspicion holds him close 
To others in his deeds! — in truth, Desire 
Is foreign to his wish, nor would he crave 
One favor at her hands! — to hear him say! 
His tongue is ready for a quick reply, 
And fire, like lightning seen in blacken'd cloud, 
In blazing wrath now flashes from his eye, 
As turns he, fierce, on Jest and Impudence, 
In answer to their taunting words and looks. 
But what he might here say is hushed, for Brag 
Recalls him to the dignity of Sham 
And all his vain display: but, rankling still, 
He fain would turn again to vent his spleen 
Did not G-loom break in here with his dark speech: 

GLOOM. 
'Tis true, the stories Pity told just now. 
Our reason tells us truly why, and how. 

Here Honor is so weak and Lust so strong, 

The one can not outweigh the other's wrong! 



94 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

Quintessence of the soul is Friendship true, 
But frail to cope with Passion's strength or due; 
It leaves its wish in helplessness to cling 
To figments of the brain, asking nothing 
But kindness in return for acts and deeds ; 
Confounding not its duty with its creeds; 
While Love with avariciousness would have 
The object of affection for its slave! 
Each day some Honor finds itself bereft 

Of dignity and stay, 
And yet Benevolence will ever prate 

Of duty and of deed, 
When all the world well knows and can relate 
How purposeless his creed! 

Within this hall, and gathered here, I wot, 

Are many now to Virtue long forgot! 

Whose stories, were they writ and posted where 
The rest could read, to G-ossip would be rare! 

Hypocrisy, thou art our king, in truth! 

Our guise for now, the slough of yesterday, 
The mark for all the morrows yet to come; 

Reshifted by old Time to hide the truth, 
Regilded by "Deceit lest you betray 
The deeds and darker secrets of some one! 

Manhood is base enough; but yet more dark, 

Methinks the Night is settling now: — but hark! — 

It is the voice of Faith breaks in just here, 
Who can not be restrained when doubts arise 
To speak in concert with old Gloom, who says 
Such gloomy things regardless of the peace 
And good intent of all here gathered round. 
Above the rest, his face aglow and clear, 
He stands, with purpose and content so marked 
In contrast with the countenance of Doubt. 
His words are these, and bring they here much cheer: 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 95 

FAITH. 

Now Scorn is hushed, but still the chamber rings 

With his abuse of Beauty and her Love; 
And what he said both nettles us and stings 

The better part of man from Him above! 
The heart and soul and Tenderness itself, 

Are rankled with those words which breathe but hate! 
'Tis as a moan wailed by some peri elf 

Debarred the peace within at Heaven's gate! 
Then is it not enough that Faith should rise, 

Since Cheer has failed to speak a fellow's praise, 
To soothe the troubled heart and hush the sighs 

Awakened by the tumult of Scorn's ways? 
To teach the spirit comfort, raise the eyes 
To higher plains of vision, fairer skies? 

This little thing of Faith is strong and brave: 
'Tis mightier than the mightiest and can save 
The soul from all the horrors of the grave! 
As lever of the heart, uproots it there 
The thistles of its doubts and woeful care! 
A wand of Hope wherein great power lies 
To scatter clouds of Doubt that lower skies. 
When most the heart is grieved then Faith is strong; 
A Houri of the soul e'er chants his song, 
And sweeter are such notes than birds can sing 
When gayest in the balmy hours of spring! 

'Tis Fate that breaths a lowly prayer at night, 

And cheers the shrinking soul through gloomy hours; 

And he is first to see the dawn and light, 
And offer up his praise to higher Powers! 

Who lies him down to slumber feels secure 

If Faith stands watch, for naught can him allure. 

'Tis Faith that buoys up afflicted hearts, 

And soothes their pains, and eases much the smarts 

Caused by the world's imparity and arts! 



96 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

'Tis Faith that harbingers mid bitter strife. 
Some peace to come, when that poor, stricken Life 
May lay aside its toils and earthly strife! 

Faith is abode of peace 

Where Love abides ; 
Temptations here release 

Whom bondage chides ! 

A Fortress yet more strong, 

Art can not build; 
A Daedalus were wrong, 

And quite unskilled! 

A Labyrinth it is, 

Where guilty Fear 
Can find no way within 

To frighten Cheer. 

All bow before the shrine 

Within this cove, 
And here none can repine, 

For all is love! 

How can the world not see to Faith is due, 
All that is good, is wise, is fair, is true? 

He who remembers not 'twas Faith that led 
The Chosen through the Sea and Wilderness; 

And in the hour of need them clothed and fed, 
And shielded them in all their sore distress, 
As wandered they in Lands, and were oppressed- 
Deserves no better fate than mocks his rest! 

Faith has proved fellow to each order made, 

And laws propounded he has forced obeyed. 

'Twas he who fettered wills in solemn pledge 

To laws Confucius made, that were obeyed 

A score of centuries, as men allege. 

Lycurgus held them, too, through such a sway — 

And laws like his were good observed to-day! 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 97 

What other thing than Faith would prove so strong 

To spread the tenets sprung in Galilee, 
That teach the difference 'twixt Right and Wrong, 

And point the way above for you and me? 
Then should we pray for Faith and banish Doubts; 
Then should we close our ears to Discord's shouts ; 
Then should we live in Virtue, holding Trust 
The dearest of our fellows; Scorn the worst! 

That Hope's star may light our night, 

Let us pray; 
That sweet Cheer naught may affright, 

Let us pray! 
That the solemn hour of night 
May awaken no such sight 
As would please distempered Spite — 

Let us pray! 
Through our Faith we see the day, 

With its light! 
Hopes arise to point the way, 

Onward, right; 
And the blessed Sun will stay, 
Shooting here and there a ray ; 
Lighting up life's weary way 

With his light! 
Trust we all things good and brave, 

Or that's true; 
Teach the heart to love and crave 

All that's pure; 
When old Death would make our grave, 
Faith will true Immortals save, 
And the Soul will live no slave, 

As in you! 

But momentary pause the speech creates, 
Nor has it deep effect on those around; 
Nor once relax the lines in Doubt's grim face, 



98 PASSIONS' PAXDEMOXIUM. 

"Whose speech was halted by these words of Faith. 
'Tis true those who believed with Faith once more 
Regain composure in a manner slight. 
And feel new throb within the heart a hope 
Of coming peace, should Tumult but subside. 
Or drunken Revelry sink to his rest! 
Conditions, though, seem most adverse to ends 
The peace beseeching hope for. and. opposed 
The greater number stand, with drunken leers 
And darker frowns and bitter, taunting sneers! 
The quick is touched somewhere in every breast, 
And sweet Forgiveness can scarcely soothe 
The rankled feelings of them, one and all ; 
At least not since some Rashness would recall 
In each one*s speech the failings of the rest ! 
And every word so spoken is retained 
Within the heart of Memory to brood 
Distempers and the cursed flocks of Hate. 

Such champions of Despair as mingle here 
Must needs bring much of gloom, while those opposed 
Seek but to filter in a ray or two! 
'Tis here a light and there a shadow falls. 
Like clouds and sunshine on a blustrous day. 
The Virtues these, and those we would conceal 
Are vices loosed to curse the brighter ray: 
Contention in our passions when restraint 
Is broken by some reckless Disregard 
To mingle all Emotions good or bad! 

Ne'er fiercer frowned two armies drawn in line 
"Whilst armistice of peace restrained their arms 
Than frown the baser Passions here to-night 
On those inclined to peace and not to war; 
Or frown the fiercer to the fiercer's stare! 
Discretion has his better part forgot. 
Nor else had such offense been in the speech 
Of each whose purpose was to heal the wound, 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 99 

And not inflict a new one with the tongue. 

Yet how can speech be made without remark 

Upon the strength or weakness of the parts 

That constitute the man, or feed his thoughts; 

The very source and fountain of himself? 

'Twas puzzling to the minds that speech have made; 

'Twill puzzle those that follow, too, I trow! 

The Good and Bad will ever war, it seems, 
So long as side by side they lie in man 
And Action has the prod to stir them up. 
'Twere vain to call a halt, though Prudence would, 
Now that the Passions all are full aroused; 
For each one feels a right to speak his thoughts 
And give the reason of his present course. 
Why Beauty should be heard and Envy not, 
This Envy can not see, nor will she hush 
Until the multitude her story knows; 
And Jealousy will finish out the tale, 
No matter how conclusive it may be; 
Then Vice will call attention to some things 
That Love has quite forgot, or, worse, concealed! 
And Sham will rise to let all fully know 
That Beauty owes to him much of her show! 

Thus firm resolved, impatient, too, to speak, 
Excitement rises high and much restraint 
Is needed to withhold them till their time. 
Spite and Distrust, and Mischief, too, attempt 
To seize and use the present to begin ; 
But Doubt breaks in, to whom they all lend ear, 
While crouched in deeper shade hides trembling Fear! 
His voice is trumpet to the things unknown 
And stirs the thoughts of all in wild alarm 
When Explanation can find no excuse 
For folly given in as Sacred Truth : 
Or tell the reason why such things are so; 
Or why we things profess we do not know! 



100 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

Now this, now that; his words so call to mind 
Some struggling Thought that never was defined! 
And first with pathos does he soft commune 
With every tender cord that knows not why 
It rings to peans of Faith's victory; 
With louder swell he then some Eeason starts 
To weigh a judgment as against a heart: — 
But can you climb the gamut of his song? 
These are his words: now fit your scale to them! 

DOUBT. 

Doubt bears a hateful name! 
'Tis sad to be despised when we can find 
Naught that should lead our friends to be unkind! 

To feel a nameless want, 
I can not see 

Why all the world should taunt 
Poor, miserable me — 
When that the very want is as a sea, 
All boundless, raging, stormy as can be! 
Confusion in the mind; no light to guide 
The fragments of one's thoughts, as scattered wide 
O'er billowy deep, they sink in froth or ride 
The shifting waves: — then why should others chide? 
Doubt can not answer for his doubts! no more 
Can Faith for what he feels, or what he would deplore! 

Has Doubt, then, any aim? 
Faith would deny him one, or say it was 
The impulse of the Evil One whose cause 
This Doubt is servant to that he may wreck 
The gilded ship of Hope upon whose deck 
The children of some G-od seek speedy way 
To Realms beyond where shines perpetual Day! 

Think you this Doubt to Pleasure can say "Nay," 
Without compassion for himself, now, pray? 
Can tear from bleeding bosom all the charm 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 101 

That renders life worth living, cools alarm, 
Or fits us by confession for the Death 
That sternly waits this palpitating Breath? 

I listen to jthe words that others speak 
And try to feel how foolish and how weak 

I am, if what the rest have said is true! 
For they can read the Book of Life to me! 
Interpret every thing I can not see! 

And yet the Book is blank to me — and you! 

To stand aloof and listen to the cries 
That Bigotry would herald to the skies, 

And mock them, as it seems that now I do, 
May wound the feelings of the Lenient Saint 
That one can be so dead, nor feel restraint 

When all the rest believe — but is it true? 

This question rises ever in my mind 

And seeks the answer that it can not find. — 

In favor, not at least, with what it hears; 
And if I seem to mock with my cold stare, 
It is because I can not find it fair 

That some should know, while others die in fears ! 

Doubt holds this as his view: 
That Truth is greater than the Shadow which doth pass for truth ; 
That Faith is strongest when it feels the trembling pangs of ruth; 
That Hope is not the truest measure of this world's reward; 
That Fact may mar the fondest dream our wishes may applaud. 
That all the joy we feel in simple trust, or selfish youth, 
Are Folly's recompense for Wisdom's woeful want, insooth! 
That better 'tis to sow a grain of Wit in nature's soil, 
Than reap an harvest Wish has grown of Weeds, sprung with no 

toil: 
That Phantoms are not real though to the credulous eye they seem 
All that our Fancy would make out of them, portentious things 

of dream! 



102 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

That Night is mother of those Dreams which fill our hearts with 

frights 
Naught but the Sun of Day can drive away with his more certain 

lights ; 
That born with such were rnany faiths you now believe as true! 
No Intellectual Day as yet has banished all from view! 
That Wisdom fears no Doubt but looks upon him as a friend 
Who will reshift his facts and point his better judgment's trend! — 
Now how see Faith and you? 

A Radamanthus so may judge 
Betwixt us here, I will not budge 

Until more facts I see. 
And if Faith prove the stronger. I 
Will then most graciously comply : — 

To know is faith to me! 

My mind and ears are open to the words that Truth would speak. 
Confound me not with chatter then, to Reason limp and weak! 
Compare me to this Faith so fair, by deed and recompense: 
Who has advanced mankind the more? Now speak without pre- 
tence! 
If bound them into Nations he by trust victorious, 
Their State I have advanced by making man more curious! 
Still banded as poor Troglodytes, in caves men yet had dwelt 
If Faith had ruled alone with them, and I had not been felt ! 
But Fa, e decreed it otherwise ; from lowly stage they've grown, 
While Faith, chameleon-like, is changed in hue to hold its own: 
To-day is red; yesterday, black; to-morrow may be white: 
Let seasons pass, the time may come when Faith may yet be 
right ! 

Here Faith is seen to squirm at such rough wit. 
But looking round, the crowd catch but a glance 
To raise a shout of laughter that might shake 
Some Tower yet of Babel to the ground! 
A gathering then there is of fellowships ; 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 103 

The mirthful and the sad, the stem and weak, 
In clans of different strength and boisterousness : 
So grouped about to offer strange contrast. 
To Faith come Cheer and Hope and Bigotry, 
Met here on common ground, through interest kin ; 
And each some comfort to the other speaks; 
Or bids him be alarmed at naught he hears 
Since Friendship will prevail, — or so they think, 
Or try deceive themselves with such a thought! 

But Truth and Honesty take now no part 
And near them sits old Wisdom, hearing all 
The many notes that make the hubbub loud. 
Yet Jest and Humor, laughing still, can see 
Wit struggling with dark G-loom, who would oppose 
His better sight of Doubt when he would speak: 
And Love withdraws to those whom he would cheer, 
And Beauty hovers nigh, and so does Fear. 
The group now led by Frenzy calls for speech, 
And Doubt continues thus with fiercer tone: — 

DOUBT (CONTINUES). 

Twas Faith and superstitious Awe that gave 
Old Jephthah's daughter to the sacrifice 
Of Rashness' vow; nor did an honor save 
The son of Idomenus from the grave: 
A father's vow lay open as the price 
Due to great Neptune and his sacrifice! 
And such like charges may fore'er be brought 
While taking that for granted which is sought. 
But day and time is passed for such, I ween, 
And nevermore shall see what they have seen 
Befall the Faithful, whom Faith's arts beguiled 
Into the Dungeon's rack — to put it mild! 

Now Witch and Hag and Prophetess have fled, 
And all their vagaries with them are dead, 



104 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

From Sibyl of Cumse to Jean d'Arc, 

From witch of Endor to the modern mark 

Who gave himself as victim to the creed 

Which fired the Puritan to such a deed 

That will forever hang upon his name 

To taint his fair professions still with shame! 

From Inquisition Courts we now are free; 

Auto defes no longer do we see 

With lurid flames to light the midnight skies, 

Or hear again the victims fearful cries! 

The Tocsin ceased to ring when Doubt appeared, — 

Though Heresy at first was what was feared! 

Faith gave the impulse which, in ignorance, 

Spread devastation through a world of trance. 

A commentary strange, mankind admits, 

That cause unto the deed so happily fits ; 

For all the slaughter on the people sent, 

Occasioned was by "Bull" of "Innocent'! * 

Yea, Bull of Innocent rang tocsin loud. 

And brought to rack suspects of some witchcraft- 
Because? — Mayhap it was the victim, proud, 

Held self aloof from them ; or may be laught 
O'er their wild fancies, or their motley crowd! 
Domdaniels of assembled fiends they thought 
The cloisters of the wise wherein was taught 
That Science which in later years would turn 
The mind to Reformation, which might spurn 
Its former faith with Luther's spirit stern! 
But ere such day had dawned, you must confess, 
A myriad victims fell — to thoughtlessness! 
The work of Ignorance and Bigotry! 
Slaves to the dogmas of Church infamy! 
The world were better then had Satin's boast, 
"To hang vile D' Anion and D'Urtubbe," cost 

*Pope Innocent the VIII. 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 105 

Those wretches their base heads ; for they it was 
Conceived and forged the Inquisition laws.* 

Here Faith would speak in answer, but the rest 
Will hear Doubt through, and Faith is hushed again 
To hear continuation of the speech. 
The countenance of Doubt more gloomy grows, 
And deeper yet his voice as this he says: — 

DOUBT — (CONTINUES). 

In Phlegethon they say that souls may writhe 
In all the tortures of infernal woe 
That God his mercy to mankind may show! 

Such wisdom still invents to torture with, 

The "Lakes of Fire" and "Hell," or "Shades" below! 

Now this accounts for all the ills we see 

Inflicted on the fools of ages past, 

Who killed, and died, and starved, that such a fast 
Might bring them nearer to that "Kingdom free," 

Which Faith had promised to them at the last. 

A Purgatory to the soul is Life, 

Wherein the sore inflictions are, we know, 

From Him most wise and just: — that He may show 

Us bliss by teaching first what bitter strife 
"Is flesh's heir"! — the contrast here below! 

With such a reason for the ills we feel, 
Linked with a promise of Elysium bright, 
Our gloomy thoughts are changed to wrapt delight, 

And Faith reclaims such wisdom as can kneel 
To Superstition as a heavenly sprite. 

'Tis Doubt that comes a skeptic to the fane 

*''The Commissioners, on the eve of one of the Fiend's Sabbaths, placed the jibbet on 
which they executed their victims just on the spot where Satan's gilded chair was usually 
stationed. The devil was much offended at such an affront, and yet had so little power in 
the matter that he could only express his resentment by threats that he would hang- Mes- 
sieurs D'Amon and D'Urtubbe, gentlemen who had solicited and promoted the issuing of 
the Commission, and would also burn the Commissioners themselves in their own fire. We 
regret to say that Satan was unable to execute either of these laudable resolutions." — 
Scott's Demonology and Witchcraft, Ch. VII. 



106 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

Of Superstition's altar to define 
The proneness of the Faiths that there incline ; 
And none save he has power to disdain. 
Or wit to set at naught this base design. 

Here Memory recalls a better day. 
And speaks of lessons learned within his youth 
Which taught some kinder speech than he used now. 
He'd coax some brighter hope to light his brow 
And smooth the wrinkles out which Care there brought 
As soon as he began to study Sham. 
Or learn the art of base Hypocrisy. 
Or form a closer fellowship with Scorn 
Than warranted the justness of his thought. 
With all the warring Elements full roused, 
And Truth within the balance struggling hard, 
And Wisdom to his right, while on the left 
Stand Error and bis fellow. Ignorance. 
And straight in front good Honesty and Fact, — 
Doubt waves for a moment, then resumes: — 

DOUBT (CONTINUES). 

I doubt not all the virtues that seem good; 

I doubt not good impulse oft moves the man; 
I only doubt when Wisdom says I should: 

The false alone incites my eye to scan 

Its skeleton of truth and its command. 

My mind aweary grows with all the sham 
The Age still wears to hide its woeful want; 

A relic of the past it is and slam 

Upon our Progress, loud in its own vaunt, — 
Which amounts to nothing, if we taunt! 

"Tis for a surer footing that I work; 

My effort is to see the way more clear; 
No hardship Truth imposes will I shirk. 

Such labors to me have been ever dear: 



PASSIONS' PANDEMONIUM. 107 

They drown uncertainties; make vision clear! 

To know that Hope is blind, as taught of old, 
To know that Faith is brother, too, and dark, 

Unable all it tells us to behold, 

Does not deny us Friendship, nor the mark 
Of Fellowship — nor freedom of the lark! 

True happiness is bound by no false creeds ; 
Contentment lies within no given scope: 

The guerdon of a life is worthy deeds ; 

And Wisdom can the eyes of dullards ope 

To brighter scenes than wait on fitful Hope! — 

A cry arises now inquiring cause 
Which leads the child of man to found a creed 
Whose aim is explanation of the world; 
Its whence, its why, its future and its end; 
Or, grouping in the Darkness, why it then 
Should spring the thought of Immortality? 
Or fashion out a Heaven for the Soul? 
In answer Doubt continues thus to speak: — 

DOUBT ( CONTINUES) . 

It is the Unexplained that hints at Immortality! 

The known was ever dumb, is silent still ; 
And all we think we know of life beyond Reality, 

In sober truth, are guesses at a "Will" 

That is beyond man's finite ken and skill! 

A "Will," forsooth, whose mere existence is opined by man, 

Who feels the limit of his wisdom's scope: 
In explanation of Inexplicables, understand, 

For fear some Truth a mortal eye might ope 

To render it less trustful than its hope! 

The explanation in itself, to doubly thus confuse 

The mind that was bewildered with the first, 
Does little to explain; yet teaches Faith how to misuse 



108 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

Its reason, which, of follies is the worst 
To prostitute the sense by Ignorance curst. 

Tis cowardice to throw Existence's explanation where 
The mind in inner darkness e'er must grope, 

When bound'ries lie more near us which our knowledge can 
compare 
With facts conn'd in the Laboratory's scope — 
Though such may not be food for soaring Hope! 

So many things of ^Future States" we've heard: 
But none that bore conviction with their word! 
A Home beyond the grave? A promised G-oal, 

Such as Socrates would picture there, 
Were unction good, indeed, for any Soul 

To which Doubt gives a passing thought or care! 

This Death opined he one of two things sure: 

'Tis either deep Oblivion and sleep. — 
An endless Night whose spirits would allure 

The troubled Mind to slumber sweet and deep. 
Wherein no Dream would wake reposing Thought 
To stir with Life, or cope with things distraught: 

Or lives in transumation still that Soul 

In Purgatory here, as beast or man: 
Beyond his feeble efforts or control: 

Awaiting Vishnu's coming or command, — 
ion of Rest that follows his advent. 
At which the hours of toil will have been spent! 

Metempsychosis of the Brahmins, this; 

Buddhistic Nothingness the most of that: 
Though cited by the learned Greek, I wis, 

Is nothing save some barbarous fiat, 
That leaves us in the doubt we were before, 
Or tells us plainly that no one can know. 

But in a Heaven as he pictures there. 

Where Minos, Rhadamanthus and the best, 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 109 

Will judge the deeds of man, prescribe his rest, — 
They, known on earth as wise, and just, and fair, — 

It were indeed a boon to be so bless'd, 

Could we but go and dwell there — so confessed! 
There, nestled in beneficence divine, 

Beyond Life's sting, the world's imparity, 
In Love's retreat about this sacred Shrine, 

The Will would learn restraint is but to free! 

Reciting each to each the hardships borne 
While journeying his stage upon the earth, 
It were a consolation sure, and worth 

The pains it cost; for by such shall be known 

The bliss comparison will thus have shown! 

But who will this profess? avow it true? 

Has Socrates, or any one yet found 

It more than Hope's vain dream? an empty sound? 
The credulous man it may be can allure ; 
But what of him who seeks for deeper clue? 

The Ormuzd and the Ahriman of Fate— 

And Fate I take as That that has transpired — 

Still war below to leave mankind the hate 

Born with him in the Egg the Good One sired — 
But added ere its hatching was allowed! 

"Eternal Light" is still absorbed in • -Night!" 

"Eternal Justice" meets with much that's wrong! 

"Eternal Fitness," though to Truth most right, 
May fall into an error yet more strong, 
And by such error be so led along! 

Fair Mithra of the Pehlvic Deity, 

Grand Symbols of the little that we know, — 

In very truth, much good and bad we see, 
But how distinguish, is for you to show! 
And to poor man now tell just what you know! 

Remember, as you go, opinions change! 



110 PASSION'S PAXDEMOXIUM. 

And faiths as many are as men you find! 
And by contrast you'll see things very strange — 
rhe Fe;ee and the Fin have you denned? 
Environments, i: seems, oft mould the mind! 

To be esteemed a virtue, that of theft. 
The Turkoman may give some : _: excuse 

And may be he who has some child bereft 
O: either parent, and by such abuse 
Mounts higher in rsteem and public use 

Examples :: these kind we oft can find 
With Little effort on our par: tc see 

A note-book will bring manv things to mind 
O'er which we might well marvel: — such the sea 
: Faiths and Creeds full of iniqu:: 

Explain? — The san explain save he who knows 
Thai mduct is a thing from ac:- evolve 

Fhe -:od and Bad of life, the truth now shows, 
Are so from some Utility resolved 
From acts directing thus, or thus "evolve 

Youi Magi are as vain as Priests have e ::"vn. 

And : oite as foolish in their vain belief: 
rhey can not see how Doubt can all ■:". is wn 

Or find a reason for his sane relief. 

J_ :_; -hackles of your barbarous belief! 

A silence falls again, broke by a ; • 
1 sad I -spair who drinks too deep with Doubt. 

The bitter draught of Thought's misgiving 
And. horrowed by the taunts of all she knows. 
And . U she may now guess, falls in a dream 

Lone the troubles of her life! 
Dismay is blank in stai end Fancy heai s 
A _ an from Mis end him whose cheei 

Is promise of a Future L::t tc ;ome. 
Dis: us - itiucr hear: 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. Ill 

But cries are ringing in his spirit's ears, 

Of Death no Resurrection can abridge! 

Despondency is heard to heave a sigh 

Foretasting Hell's deep gloom, where neither ray 

Of faith or promised joy can more illume! 

And most that stand around are bowed to Doubt, 

Nor know now what to think, nor what their doom; 

Expecting, yet expecting not a fate 

They wish but find no reason for, nor fact 

On which to mount to reach its shining goal. 

But even in this fatal hour we find 

Faith still upholds his head as nothing moved, 

While Hope seems brighter yet 'mid all the gloom; 

And could he but arouse he might relight! 

But Doubt resumes, his thoughts now running thus: 

DOUBT — (CONTINUES), 

Oh for some Home beyond Life's fitful sea! 
Far, far away from wrangling Humankind, 
And these the darting thoughts that throb the mind! 

Within a Zone where all may yet be free — 
Where sleep the restless waves of vast Eternity! 

Free as the bird that mounts the swelling wind, 
Or rides upon the billows of the Storm — 
Borne ever onward out of reach of harm ; — 

So may I live and be so unconfirmed 
Though Tempests rock the Deep, I'll neither know nor mind! 

A land where Patience needs no helpful part, 

Nor Friendship for some broken faith can weep — 
For all is wrapt as in eternal sleep! 

Sweet as the Rest when Slumber by his art 
Receives the troubled mind, and calms the aching heart! 

Now speech like this to follow that before, 
Seems most propitious of a turning point ; 
And Faith would here urge on him gentle Trust, 



112 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

Who might relieve him of foreboding thoughts 
And set him on aright in Duty's path: 
And Reason tells him such would bring relief 
To gloom-pent bosom ; or might ope his eyes 
To things existing not to him, yet seen 
By others blinded not to truths of life. 
Good Judgment and Content, and Wisdom, too, 
With evidence to bear what Faith has said, 
Surround him and proceed to make their speech, 
Conflicting with his own and Truth's rejoin. 
And Hope would add a word here to the rest, 
While Piety, her hands raise as in prayer, — 
When, nettled to the quick, and scorning words 
That have no other weight than selfish wish, 
Doubt breaks in once again, in manner thus : — 

doubt — (continues) . 

Why should I weep at Death? 
This Breath may pass ere it be fairly drawn, 
Or late at eve, it matters not, still on 
The world will move as though it ne'er had been ; 
The sun-lit skies of Life to fade in gloom, 
And sink to sepulcher within a tomb 
Unmarked save by a moss-grown stone of Hope! 

Why should I weep to part? 
The friends I have so briefly known in life, 
As briefly will forget ! The press of strife 
That hangs upon existence's fairest part 
Will hush their grief for me, to mayhap start 
The fearful heart a throbbing o'er new fears, 
Born with the hour, to seek surcease in tears! 
Time heals and leavs no grief within the heart ! 

Why should I pray for life? 
Nirvana is the goal of all that lives! 
Or such alone to souls a freedom gives! 
Souls rankling with Existence's pricks and ills, 



PASSIONS' PANDEMONIUM. 113 

And all that Duty fosters or instills ! 
And true, Buddhistic Thought, which wisely says: 
"As long as Minds exist so long there stays 
Eemembrance of the ills which Flesh once felt!" 
And Folly answers him whom tears can melt! 

Why should I pray at all? 
There comes from empty chambers of old Night 
No echo back to Life to set aright 
Affairs dismembered here for which I prayed! 
Or stay the rush of Time I would were staid! 
Dumb stand all Gods save to the credulous ear 
Of Faith, which, bound and left in bonds of Fear, 
Lets Superstition answer, and believes! — 
Him whom the world confesses e'er deceives! — 

A climax is thus reached, and all attend: 
Some in deep grief, all with great horror lend 
Their ears and thoughts to this erratic speech, 
That leads but to the mockery of life, 
And all its futile struggles, — if reward 
Is Nothingness, and best to end it all! 

What of Design or "Manifested Care?" 
Are they estrayed? or are they as the rest, 
Deceiving signs, or folly, at the best? 
So Doubt would them define, and Fear premise 
The Truth ere it were known: and true it is, 
All that we think we know is only guess, 
While that beyond the G-rave is silent still! 
The Future Curtains have remained so drawn, 
Since first this Race begun, and eye of Sage, 
Of Prophet, or of Priest, has never seen 
One jot beyond, though Patmos' Vision may 
Some divination claim! 

Some questioning mood now moves the throng entire ; 
This one his faith defends, that one his doubt ; 



114 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

Both proving by their words that no one knows 
The truth of all he says ; nor why, nor how 
Life came, or Life will go when it shall die. 

Conflicting in their thoughts and words they speak: 
Each questions every attribute he sees, 
Or feels, or knows in neighbor or in self; 
Unable longer to contain the sum 
Of his make-up. which he has added here, 
And mingled with the traits he found without; 
Or to suppress the pent of feeling which 
Has now so fearful grown it has become 
Too strong to brook — so horrored up by Doubt! 
And seeing, too, that Hope is struggling hard 
Amid the other Passions to be heard; 
That Faith and Cheer lend to him all their aid; 
Despondency begins with doleful speech; 
His gloomy thoughts in cadence, running thus: 

DESPONDENCY. 

I see that Hope would speak to silence Doubt; 

I see that Faith and Cheer would lend him aid; 
I see the rest would hear some more about 
The ills of life and how they will be paid: 
If still in dark uncertainties, or rest; 
Or what all would agree, or deem the best. 
Experience has taught me this full well, 
And time it is for me, I think, to tell 
What I have conn'd, though't break your Fancy's spell! 
My dream of perfect happiness is fled! 
My faith in bliss to come is likewise dead! 
The first I have found all opposed to Fate, 
Or if not Fate, cold facts or sterner Hate, 
Which tells me that incongruous is the thought 
That sees in life naught but the thing it ought! 
That Nature is quite dumb to struggling Life, 
Let ages speak; and mark you but the strife 



PASSIONS' PANDEMONIUM. 115 

That left in mould'ring heaps on shores of Time, 

Those species dead, which were to changing clime 

Not well adapted — by Misfortune left 

To rot! Extinct the Fauna so bereft 

Of Godly care, or Mutability, 

That could but would not Life adapt you see, 

But left it to mad Elements to do 

Whate'er they would with feeble me and you! 

And all that have survived Destruction's wrath 

Have stolen from his sight, or found a path 

'Long which poor Life could battle for a while, 

Until an inch were gained, and so — a mile! 

Such want of care would prove my latter thought, 

And poor Analogy has vainly sought 

For instance which could liken such a dream 

As Future Bliss to mortal eye would seem ! 

But, carried to the end, 'tis thus we find 

Our Logic baffled and our Reason blind! 

Then to enjoy this life what must we do? 
Pursue such follies named? or seek the clue 
Of happiness, such as to life is due? 
'Tis found not in our faith, for as I've said, 
Such is the child of Folly, and 'tis bred 
In Ignorance and by such ever led! 
Nor is it found in Hope ; ephemeral 
Are all its promises, and none can tell 
How soon will flee its charms, when we shall fall 

More deep in gloom than ere its spell was felt: 
And contrast shows us that we would recall, 

And feeling that we would had ne'er been felt! 
Then is it Friendship's part? and will he do 
For us what all the rest would fain eschew? 
Had Friendship thus performed his duty right 
There would have been no bickerings here to-night! 
No need we now had felt for that restraint 

We pray for to preserve our peace and cheer ; 



116 PASSION'S PAXDEMOXIUM. 

Nor would Malignity have brought complaint, 

Or misdirected Zeal forgot his fear, 
And mad with such excess thus bring this strife 
That so much here endangers every life! 

What has this Friendship done for me? 

Naught can I see, naught can I see! 
What ill averted doomed to me? 

None that I now can see! 
A breath of coldness chills me through; 

A glance that tells me plain enough. 

That I am brunt and Scorn's poor cuff — 
And not companion firm and true! 

What has this Friendship done for me? 

Now let me see: now let me see: 

No pardon has it found for me 

That I can hear or see! 
When Tempters knocked at my closed door 

It warned me not — I let them in 

To turn my soul to hell and sin! 
And Friendship knew, or did not know! 

What has this Friendship done for me? 

This much you see! This much you see! 
I once was innocent and free ; 

But now I'm as you see! 
He knew or did not know the right : 

Myself was prone to what I saw: 

I did not know stern Duty's law, 
Else to escape my fall I might ! 

What has this Friendship done for me? 

Deceiver, say! I can not see! 
They lack with elfish romp and glee, 

Hath proven more to me! 
Reposing confidence is lost! 

I once believed, but now I find 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 117 

My faith was shadow to my mind, 
And paid in gloom what Friendship cost ! — 

A pass that Soul has reached that can speak thus! 
And such the poison of the fearful words 
The venom reaches deep and stings the source 
Whence Life and all content and happiness. 
So break in those who will not hear a wail 
Like this, and ere Despondency they'll let 
Speak on in manner thus, they'll fling him out 
And make him finish to the Night his curse! 
The speech Thersites spoke was treason mild 
Compared to this, and at a time less apt 
To fire the mind, though then a time of war; 
For this is war within, more dang'rous far 
Than any outward strife or combat fierce 
Waged 'twixt contending foes when guiding light 
Of Peace may cheer and rule the soul within. 
Ulysses with commanding voice might hush 
The first, or stifle treason so by arms: 
But who can silence Thought, or calm the mind 
At war with self and brooding o'er its ills? 
He who can conquer self, 'tis wisely said, 
Holds trophy of a greater victory 
Than he who takes a city in her strength, 
Engirded by her walls, brave in defense! 
'Tis therefore well to hush Despondency 
Ere his distemper spreads and takes a hold 
In bosoms vulnerable through some mistrust. 

To turn the subject of the discourse now 
The better Passions try, but much success 
Crowns not their brave attempts and vain appeals ; 
For bitter have the others rashly grown, 
And tortured their own minds into belief 
That they have been the brunt of all the scorn 
That poor misguided Judgment has declaimed. 



US PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

Sc while the Good would turn the trend of thought 

To brighter plains and subjects of discourse. 

The Wicked stand opposed and soon triumph. 

And call in more confusion vet to drown 

The speech of any who might call for peace. 

So Doubt breaks in again while Tumult reigns. 

To turn the course of his remarks to Love. 

Who boasted first, then Beauty with her sham, 

Of whom he has not spoken yet : not that 

He lacked a cause, but that he lacked a time. 

Considering first the things of most concern. 

All harken fcc his speech for none can move 

So deep as he. so spur them to the quick! 

He. with some Little scorn, proceeding thus: — 

7BT RESOIES . 

Love has ui Leadened eyes where Beauty's show 

Is veiled by Ugliness, nor does he know 

The value of the heart whose warmth and glow 

Is hid beneath the marble check of snow. 

To him all beauty is just what it seems: 

The semblance which it borrows knows he notj 
Deception is - dever and his screens 

Hang there between fehe y Mid Nature - blol 
The Truth is hid. but pompous in dispb ~ 
The Fals s1 U about fehe livelong lay 

Some pari in all so none will him betray 
But with mine eye, :-. what a world I see 
And - sing " : q Lain the things thai 

When Wantons fill the bed •;: CI s 

And £ d - ace, 

d [ U we 

As ::,zl^-' ':, ----.--- : this life ~' 

Pro] Btides tis said - > rst; 

arriage ] rtion then I shs m i 

To-dav the ith all feh 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 119 

Of their descendants, — too debased to name! 

But devotees to Venus yet, though she 

Is said to have renounced them long ago; 
When they first pandered to their lusts to be 

Poor prostitutes of Wealth and Fashion's show! 

The soul of man recoils within his heart 

At sight of what he sees, while Wish would mould 

A Galatea of Pygmalion art, 

Could plastic clay, as in the story told, 

Be wrought in form as then, and so be blest 

With Life new born and love-pulsating breast! 

A purity in love is what we need, 

But phantasy and folly are our meed! 

'Tis well, perhaps, if we from such might learn 

In universal changs here, a change 
May fit us for life's duties which we spurn 

In face of mighty dangers that derange 
The minds of not a few whose hopes are based 
Upon a smile or bow — often two-faced! 

Nor is the thing we wish for best when got. 

The prize may prove a vapid sweet to taste. 
The pleasure of pursuit may be forgot, 

Luxuriating in the wanton waste 
Our victory has bought with passion bold, — 
To vitiate our taste and leave us cold! 

Ofttimes we look upon an eyely prize 

And conjure means by which we may obtain 

That morsel for ourself ; and so devise 
For happiness its crucible of pain: 

Forgetting thus, that "Ignorance is bliss 

When it is folly to be wise" — as this! 

Here Honesty uprises to his feet 
To flash his manly eyes on those around: 
With truth at heart and fairness on his tongue, 



120 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

He would complete the story Doubt begun: 

Well knowing that some censure spoke was due 

To curb the rising spirit of bold Love. 

And cool the rank audacity of Lust, 

And warn proud Beauty not to brag or boast. 

But that injustice had also been done. 

And imputations placed where Innocence 

Were wounded should the charge be made complete, 

He also knows, and this he would correct. 

Already Jealousy has beckoned Spite, 

And Envy and Caprice have met to smile, 

And dark Chagrin wears still a curling sneer, 

And Discord growls at Fancy whom he sees 

Bedecking self, some foolish one to please. 

The hope of Honesty is blasted though, 

Nor has he time to speak in his defense; 

His better purpose serves here but to start 

A shout again for Doubt to speak some more, — 

Who, nothing loath, continues in this strain: — 

DOUBT (CONTINUES). 

O Modesty! where is thy blush? 
Yea, Honesty, I would thy flush 
Could tint the cheek the world presents 
And prove it free of all pretence! 

Can Vanity forever feel 

No fear of tongue of truth? 
Make faces wry behind her shield, 

While leading off the simpering youth? 
No one say "nay?" no one define 
The impulse that would so incline? 

While dark-eyed Grace before us stands 

To proudly sway by her commands 

The thoughtless, gaping throngs around 

Of silly dreamers idle found, 

And princely head there stoops to bow 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 121 

Before her shrine, nor will allow 
A whim or fancy that she has 
Roused in her wantonness to pass 
Until such want is amply filled, 
And the vain wish once more is stilled; 
Let him and her, and one and all, 
But stop to think, nor let enthrall 
Their souls such dreams of vanity 
That naught of truth for self can see, 
And Virtue's charms they'll find too rare; 
Too sparsely scattered here and there: 
Their bloom, their modest glow so bright, 
Like sweeping rays of Heaven's light, 
Fall on a clouded world below, 
Lost in itself and Darkness so! 

Lost in the glare of Fashion's lights, 

Paled by her shams, — indecorous sights! — 

In Reason, too, or else he sleeps 

While Folly in the head soft creeps. 

How else could he so trust the shams 

That make of men so many clams? 

That pass their painted ware — with bust 

To fair proportions filled with dust! 

Creation has for woman done 

More than her arts can overcome; 

And what of all can yet compare 

In guileless innocence — so rare! 

Or yet can crown that mantling flush, 

So coy and sweet — a maiden's blush? 

Oh, crimson glow on modest cheek, 
'Tis the, and thee alone we seek! 
Thou stamp without of soul within 
Kept pure and free from worldly sin. 
When love we fain would call our own, 
How fair that cheek with roses blown! 



122 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

To start with love the brave man's heart, 
Thou neecTst no guile nor fostered art : 
To thy shy glance his head he bows, 
And sacred unto thee his vows! 
A rose is prized until the dew 
Is scattered from his petals new. 
Its rich perfume, so briefly known, 
The impish Winds away have blown ; 
Until that hue fond Love espied. 
The wicked Sun has hastely dried, 
When, faded all, it hangs its head; 
In sooth, we know its beauty's dead! 
Nor can an Art that bloom restore: 
'Tis lost to all for evermore! 
If in this world of Sham and Art, 
A smile can light the human heart 
And set at ease a mind distraught — 
Though rankled by each waring thought — 
What then can rosy Mantle, blown 
From brow of Virtue, brighter grown, 
And wafted down to settle there 
Upon the cheek of Maiden fair — 
Bespeak for her in Heaven's flush? — 
The which we call on earth, a blush! 

It is enough, this turn of Doubt's, to set 
The thoughts at odds upon another trend: 
In mockery of Love and Beauty's charms. 
It fills the heart of Envy full of glee, 
It pleases Jealousy, and Cavil starts 
When Clamor makes a momentary pause. 
So Honor must acknowledge much as true 
Which Doubt has spoken in his critic mood. 
A thousand instances soon flock the minds 
Of those assembled here, where merest shams, 
Assuming well the guise of honest Fact, 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 123 

Have wedded Innocence to breed Remorse 
And fill the world with fraud and insolence! 

Amid the many passions that here sway 
Between extremes of Love and bitter Hate, 
Reproach is seen to move as if to speak. 
And now she mounts as on some rostrum there, 
And swings her hands to catch the listening ear, 
And in a doleful strain this wail begins : — 

REPROACH. 

Judge not from what you see. 
You see me dressed in silken gown; 
Bright jewels sparkle in my hair; 

My smiles seem apt and free! 
The glitter and the glare confound, — 
In truth, they say but this: "She's fair!" 

Beneath the show is me! 

I once was young and fair; 
Nor needed paint to hide my cheek, 
Or give life's hue a healthy glow: 

Of charms I had my share . 
The recollection now can tweak 
My guilty soul, since I shall know 

No more that I am fair! 

I once was young and fair — 

yes, my eyes were brighter, too ; 
And innocence once filled this heart 

That now is filled with care. 
The world is full of pain and rue 
And thoughts that sting and smart — 

And, God! I've had my share! 

Let man explain my fall! 
Like giddy fools I meet on earth, 

1 gave my heart to passions' sway ; 

Forget myself and all 



124 PAJSSI A > PAXDEMOXIUM. 

rhal wisdom tells us is :■: worth; 

My lips refused fcc form the --nay" 
Tha: saves a life its gall! 

But let man do his worst! 
The name he has drawn down in shame. 
Will live to curse him in his pride. 

Though crowned with honor first 
Nay, but the guilt he feels is :.nie 
Fc that : woman's sting whose Tide 

H . s drifted seaward — surst 

This shot lodged in the bi sis: af more than one 
Though random fired, and Justice Srr5 them wince 
And fearful look o'er Maledictions curse. 
It is as though the God : Secrecy 
Some pa:: :: his full Charge has g ren up 
T-: Truth - lemand _ opened t: the eyes 
O: Slander here some portal :: the heart. 
Sc Ear B b : limination has exposed 
By charge and counter-char^ the very things 
Thr Passi:~~ — : v.l :". ?oneeal 

A darkened sec i r_ow clouds the brow of those 
Who feel that i-harge i . .: their door. 

^: ; :_:_;:: is alert :: every word. 
And marks each quivering lip or downcast ey 
restless m )ve >i softl murmured sigh, 
And nrg:- matters m by by glaces swift, 
Accusing in directness >f theii stare 
So Admonition moves for less concern 
Lest Ac >:.:ion fix a ;hai g 3 on him; 
But base Depravity is old of mien. 
Ontstares them all. and moves but to be -:n. 

A gloomy i . erhangs them all, i: seems, 

First sprung In wine, but fixed in Scorn's reply 
To Br :.: ity and her Love, and bv old Gloom 



PASSIONS' PANDEMONIUM. 125 

And Doubt and mad Despondency, is made 
Yet darker still till Faith is lost and Hope 
Alone remains to cheer the reckless throng, 
And drop some cooling balm on galling wounds 
New opened by the wail of rash Reproach. 
It is the resolution of the Soul 
That drives man to commit the fearful deed 
He long laments and never can forget! 

When such a stage is reached there is but one 
That can bepicture to us fairer life, 
Or light the gloomy cast of darkest thoughts. 
Now conscious of his time and what perforce 
Must follow soon if light falls not on those 
Here gathered round and lost in grimmy moods, 
Bright Hope begins his plea in these soft words: — 

HOPE. 

Above the din let voice of Hope be heard. 
And hearken! hearken! Listen to my word! 
For I would peace restore to you, and calm 
The tumult of your mind that no dire harm 

Befall you here, 

Restore your cheer, 
And soothe the troubled spirit of alarm. 

Trouble is brief, 

Likewise is grief, 
And sullen Despair an infamous thief 

That steals in the heart 

To sting by his art 
And play in conjunction with Satan this part. 

But day will soon dawn 

When Manhood and Brawn 
Will return to drive thence Night's doubts and his scorn, 

And bring back repose 

And comfort to those 
Whom Evil has tortured with thought's better woes. 



126 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

To beguile fickle Cheer, 

To bemock with a sneer, 
Is the office of Doubt: but his words, all so drear, 
Only Folly can hurt, for futile his leer! 

Day brings sweet reprieve 

To the heart to retrieve 
Poor Anguish so tortured through Night's dreary hours, 

And the soul finds relief 

And surcease from its grief 
In the light of its wish and the flush of its powers. 

To see you bent in gloom so grieves my heart! 
To rouse your drooping spirits is my part; 
To tint the leadened skies with heavenly light, 
Is my one duty and my sole delight. 
Despondency has naught to do with me; 
He would imprison; I would set you free. 
Oppression in the soul so staggers life 
That all there is is one perpetual strife, 
G-loom as reward, and ills but to repay 
The travails of the first and natal day ! 
But I would mellow evils and surprise 
The stormy heart with bonny, sunny skies! 

Now Doubt has cast the most of gloom, I find, 
By his wild speech, and set Despondency 

To wailing o'er the vacancy his mind 
Too truly finds in its dependency 

On what itself contains : which is too blank 

Of hope or truth — if I may be so frank — - 

To find example, or a fact to show 

That which the least among us all should know! 

And Doubt is just as guilty as can be; 

Of gross conceptions full, which even he 

Could find some exemplar to show how wrong 

And mischievous and misconstructed, too, his doleful song. 



PASSIONS' PANDEMONIUM. 127 

Before we all agree with Doubt 

Let us hear some more about 

Nature and her tale of life; 
Whether it agrees with that 
Doubt would cite us as fiat 

Spoken to this struggling Life. 
And we will doubt this much right here, 
And ask this question, straight and clear : 

Can Philosophy unfold 

All the secrets left untold 

Of this vital Spark and Mould? 

Can it tell us whence the Breath? 

What is Life and what is Death? 

Whence the Ego that in me 

Says "I am and yet will be?" 

If it can not all explain, 

Silence had it best maintain! 

Does not the subtile charm of life itself, bespeak us hope* 
Though eye of Wisdom lack the range or penetrating scope 
That can see aught beyond Death's door, or Life's declining slope? 

We were not, but we are — which speaks a Power 
The finite mind is powerless to judge! 

And can this same be banished in an hour? 

Inanimate again which naught can urge 
To action as before? 
'Twere vain to here ignore 

Those living promises that hearts explore 

To tell us of an After-death, and more! 

Analogy may hint at life to come, 

And Prophecy may tell its tale elate, 

But still within the human heart is some 

Divinity that speaks of Future State! 

It fashions and it rules the rugged will, 



**The soul," says Socrates, "is immortal, because it contains the principle of motion with- 
in itself, and this principle has no beginning, for if a beginning were created from any- 
thing it would not be a beginning." In the Phaedrus, not the Phaedo of Plato, 1151. 



PA •> SI OX " > PAXDEMOXIUM. 

It speaks :•: -rangling Doubt: ••Peace, thou I be •till!" 

The joy of all mankind; for Fancy gives 

This :::":- to bless and lighten human rares. 
Ai: all the uher ill- she ruin shares. 

T is : >lish. all of this you he me - 

Then, listen! I —ill nroTe another vray; 



Is Life from Death? 
Inanimation still the source ' 
Of Iiife, full of its sentient Force, 

And Will, and Breath? 

As Pagan Sages taught ere there was core 

In Galilee One who should teach 
Immortals not to fear or mourn 

Life's lasting sleep — Death's timeless breach 
Tvrxt Sou*, and Brum ~hi:h :n earth 
Are joined together from their Birth? 

"If tdfe is born of Death, then death is life 
To nrove it so. ~ 
Said Sages long ag : . 
ad to contend with Doubt, is fruitless strife 

For Instinct is the proof that goes beyond our birth 
And holds in memory things to this life most worth. 

Learner! ere "^ "ere. :v reminiscence still 
Of Deity, or His diviner Will! 
This innate :a:t. -T am." can add t: this. 
And show a nature sure to all, I wis; 
Imperishable like the first degree of Lite. 

rich did continue whole through change and fetal strif* 
To grow the metamorphosed self — 
Whose destiny Faith sees a greater yet to be! 

*The F :.,.--: U 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 129 

Why sleeps there in the mind of savage wild 

A concept far above his cruder thought, 
Which tempers his fierce will to actions mild 

When at death's door a fellow brave is brought? 
It is the Soul within him that declares 
This kindred breath is freed from worldly cares, 
And that beyond the Grave comes rest to those 
Who have done right on earth, or bravely chose 
To die in Valor's rank, or for the sake 
Of their great faith, which Conscience to them spake! 
Hope knows no Hell, and sees alone the Light 
That shall illumine every soul in spite 
Of Hell and all its wild, illusive fright! 

'Tis better for us here to live in dreams 
And bask within the sunshine of such beams 
Than wail within the gloomy shade of Doubt 
To know our whence, whereto, and whereabout! 
Mad world it is that turns the deaf ear now, 
Nor will the comfort of this much allow! 

In the exuberance of fancy I have seen 

Many a world by brightest haloes sickl'd o'er, 

Wherein this Life finds home and pleasure in the sheen, 
And plays with Love and laughing Humors on the shore ; 

Anon Pavilions fleck the cool, inviting green, 
Wherein soft Ease reclines to rest forevermore, 
And the rapt Soul is satisfied with that in store! 

It is a Moslem dream, a pious Christian thought; 

A godly concept in the mind of savage wild; 
And thus beyond G-autama's Nothingness is caught 

The essence of the deep and mystic Brahmin child! 
And Persian, Jew, and Greek philosophies have taught 

The many varied doctrines which have here beguiled 

And left in happy confidence the earth-born child! 

Not unsubstantial to myself is all I see, 

Though but the visioned worlds by dreams made true! 



1: PASSION'S PANDEMl Nl UM 

Some Solace finds a birth in what I wish to be 
That can in part the ills of flesh subdue! 
I let such wishe- soothe me, can not you? 

Tie : ::f: I'irizness i-ill :: friges "here'— 

Still harbor Night and ghastly Death and Sin. 
i-iip 5-ii: :lir Sperms ire?.::::: :::--5 : :.: sprung 
7: wring the souls :: others, :• be wrung! 

But never can such please Hie ziinds of men 

Who will not thus to Melancholy bend 

~~ hy : .rture then the mind with thoughts like these, 
WMch Scorn or Doubt or Hate alone can please 
start up Pain or Anguish to torment. 

And leave the Soul with Srrrow to lament? 
?r: :- ii-res —1:1 A::- :.:_:". 7:~ :_:..: :'_r Z ■;." 

Sir_i:s :■: r_: greater A:: .: ::~ :'_.:.:: -'.:- - rise 

Brsr-roi: ::•: Si'irr^e: rzr-i-ugl ::r- ::. .::.__-/. "i-s — 
A e:e:r_ir_g res: :: ez:: igi :lis Liie 
The better here to battle worldly strife 

T: ::•; in : :i:- ~-\ : : : s : : Liif ; f: : v.": :::ii i: 
H:"r ilisies in Tie s: ui r_is g :iiez : ~-.i — 
A.:". :-.ii -~z_-_ ierizLrSS fee- in ~ii:i :--::. 

The smile of Love and Peace that earthly churl 

never mock with hate or sneer of scorn. 
A -_-'- Z'ri'-r spies. _:: :?A:::iess. warn. 

Hope gives to purblind man a second sight 
Tiie: sees .._-..". :iir :Ar_ge: -ir_e ; i: .'. iigii: 
B with his wish, rolls back the curtained Xight 
I show the day beyond bathed in the light 
Of E --mal, and the Throne of G 

Which mortals will fall heir unto when laid beneath the sod! 

A speech like this were welcome an~ time, 

But what a consolation in its ring 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 131 

When all the Passions brooding are and dark 

With rage, or sentiments suppressed, or fear! 

A light steals in the hearts of not a few, 

A ray shot from the manly brain of Hope, 

As self -ill uminant he stands in gloom 

And lights the darkness on his every hand; 

Minervas in his thoughts, his eyes, on tongue, 

Full formed for Valor's duty, and his will. 

Faith now regains his courage which had fled 

When Doubt begun to speak, and Cheer returns 

To claim again the privilege of speech ; 

And Mirth begins her badinage with Wit, 

And Trust hunts out and counsels some with Fear, 

Who has not left though much resolved to go, 

He wonders if good Peace is full restored 

To his accustomed place within the heart. 

Scorn smiles a sickly smile in answer now, 

And seems to mock such thoughts with his bold stare ; 

His look and sneer too truly would abuse 

A trust within a hope: and Gloom bestirs 

Like sepia, to cast a deeper gloom 

That he may hide himself from eyes of those 

Whose penetrating glances would espy 

And show him prey to ail the Follies known. 

Too soon such ink o'ercasts the sky of Hope 

To leave the Passions groping in the dark. 

And ere the sky is cleared again vile Hate, 

Stung by the words of many gone before, 

Just from a conference with Spite and Spleen, 

Now challenges the speech of manly Hope. 

Dismay here follows every nod and look, 

While poor Despair drinks in his every word — 

Which runs in madden'd tones and gestures, thus: — 

HATE. 
Now Love and Faith and Hope we've heard, 
But has there come with any word 



132 PASSION'S PAXDEMOXIUM. 

The truth we long have sought? 
Our faith in them must soon despair 
If they do not sometime declare 

The things by right they ought. 

To hush the tempest Doubt has roused within the soul, 
They give us what? — exuviae of Hope! 

When all our passions are beyond such weak control. 
What valiant weapon, this, with which to cope! 

'Tis no excuse we ask for. but an arm 

That can defend us 'gainst the brunt of harm. 

A hopeless task it is that Hope pursues. 

And to his every effort still accrues 

The ill which comes but to confuse. 

If Truth were not so far beyond the ken 

Of these delights; or if some Fact could pen 

Just what is known and what is only thought. 

In what a mess these worthies would be caught! 

Faith would be found naught but that which we feel 

And give no reason for: the vain appeal 

Of Wish for what it would were true: 
No logic to the mind, but simply weal: 

Its weakness not its truth appeals to you. 
And I am much surprised to see how fain 
We would believe that which we can't proclaim 
With any great regard for truth and candor, 
Since rather to our wishes do we pander. 

Fair Justice, should he speak here, would surprise 

The giddy and the foolish and the wise. 

Who deem it out of place for one to speak 

In grave or lightest tones of any freak 

Of their imaginations, or their will 

To quaff the cordial. Wish, to Folly's fill. 

Thus Honesty becomes a thing of sound. 

And Justice is a name and nothing more; 
The first with vain Conceit you must compound, 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 133 

The other is the end Faiths most deplore. 

This last becomes a measure we would mete 
To others who have faltered or gone wrong; 

While our vindictive selves would fain defeat 
All ends that Truth declares to us belong. 

'Tis ever thus the vaunting would maintain 

Supremacy achieved through fault or strength; 

And thus they limit justice and restrain 
Its force to here revolt at any length! 

And Love? But what is love? Shall we repeat 

What Love has said himself? It is not meet 

To the occasion now that we define 

Him thus again! The truth would here confine 

Imagination's range which then was stretched 

Beyond the limit whence a fact was fetched. 

Now this is what I've found most love to be — 

And it is strongest in a youth, you see: 

Imagined sweet that fills the heart with gloom, 

And paints a hell, and calls it Heaven's boon! 

Born of its passion's self, in folly thrives, 

It sickly fades with age, in doubt it dies! 

Its pain e'er stirs the unfledged heart of youth; 

Adds scorn to early puberty, insooth! 

Deception's foulest child; twin brother, too, 

Of Jealousy, whom all would fain eschew. 

It twines itself about the human heart, 

It rouses Hope, yet trades its truth for art, 

And culmination finds its promised joy 

A hollow mockery and a vain decoy! 

If Hope were not the breath of human sighs, 
He might some region claim within the skies ; 
He might some consolation bring that would 

Live long enough, at least, for us to learn 
Its worth, or its first syllable of good, 

For which the panting heart must ever yearn. 



134 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

But such is not the office of a breeze 

Which sways the mind as wind among the trees: 

The zephyr of a virtue can not teach 

A moral good, or mend a moral breach. 

And Virtue is its own reward in lieu 

Of one more fair, or virtuously true. 

The G-ood and Bad are mixed so in this life 

That Wisdom falters pointing out the which! 
Indifferent to both is that fell strife 

That carries all before it, hem and stitch, 
From shift of Chastity to rag of Witch. 
A naked fact remains when all is done — 
And here it is, where Hope at first begun: 
Our dreams have but our senses overcast. 
To vanish soon and leave them all unmask'd. 
Such is the sport of Hope : to turn the eyes 
From facts before us to the thing of sighs, 
In which the profit is: An hour spent 
That Satisfaction may long years repent! 

Yet Hope grows eloquent indeed when he 
Would speak of what he thinks we ought to be. 
He gives a lecture on poor Faith and Doubt, 
And hopes, withal, to hear one rousing shout 
In his own praise — which no one yet has said — 
So let me say right here this much instead: 
He by his peroration sought to show 
The cause and sum of all this human woe; 
Instead, he proved beyond a caveling doubt, 
The very thing he sought to turn about! 
So metaphysical he grew he fell 
Into the pit of Ignorance, and — well, 
The proof he brought to prove Immortal Life 
Served but to show the world's continued strife, 
From G-erm within the egg to doom of Life! 

If Instinct be the Thought of Life before, 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 135 

Remembered through the sleep of Death (as taught 
By Plato and the Sages long ago) — 

What then is this Forgetfulness in sort? 
Such reminiscence, too, extends to all, 
From mankind down the scale; from large to small; 
The brute and insect holding strongest link 
'Twixt Life and Life to span Death's yawning brink! 
And transformation is the same to both — 
To Fetus and to Pupa, I'll take oath; 
And Embryos of Apes show every change 
That marks the fetal Man as wond'rous strange! 

Then would you give the proof and say that man 

Is equal in his chance for life to come, 
With any butterfly or grub that can 

Show instinct of a former life, or home? 
But Science bids Inheritance to speak — 

And this has never died since the first Germ 

Was sprung in fecund mud, a wiggling worm — 
And it now full confirms this strangest freak! 

It tells you knowledge is a something grown 

From pains and aches and pleasures that we felt 

Sometime in past ; first as sensations known, 
Then, by association, Memory spelt 

Out reason, and on Judgment Wisdom grew 

And turned its eye abstractions soon to view. 

This "Instinct" we are pleased to fix on those 

That lie beneath us in the scale of life, 
Is but a term our vanity once chose 

To mark the difference 'twixt flute and fife! 
It means that Bipeds will not now admit 
Themselves as terrce nascent with the "kit!" 

Inheritance has lived — will live always ; 
While Species grow extinct: each growth decays! 
Yes, while the Stalk has lived the Branches died: 
And what became of them? Has God denied 



136 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

Them heritance in Heaven, or a Soul 

To live again. — if in some different mould? 

Some Savage thought, indeed, an Image cast. 

Which you hug to your bosom in the dream 
That Life is in the slough! but that is past: 

And all that now remains is the vain dream! 

And this Forgetfulness : Have you observed 
The term is euphemistic here of Death?* 
Stands for decay and passage of this Breath 

That struggles in the grasp of Time deferred? 

I tell you Death pursues your every move! 

Grasps every thought that slips your feeble mind! 

Takes everything old Nature would unwind 
From skein of Life, as Dotage here doth prove! 

Bright Science would now have us all to know 

At certain periods each man is new: 

No part of him. no molecule in view 
That was component of that self before. 

Each atom has its flight, each day its change; 
Our form, it seems, preserved as if some speech 
Was given changing atoms to beseech 

Recurring ones to take their stations strange! 

Yet still the man cloth change in visage, form: 
His Youth doth pass to Mankind and to Age ; 
Each pace in life unlike each former stage; 

And whispered secrets can not hold their charm! 

What say we of the forms that went before? 

The steps that Growth took to produce the Man? 

Are they preserved? and will they hence command 
Their former place in Resurrection's show? 



*M. Th. Ribot says that forgetfulness is a healthy condition of the mind that eliminates un- 
necessary minutia of the conception in its recall, rendering memory a psychical perspective. 
But if memory is the organic registration of sensations, then it follows that any change in 
the molecules, or physical arrangement of this registration, will cause a blotting out of a part 

of the sensation, hence, forgetfulness, or death. 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 137 

Old sores of Life are cicatrized and lost ; 
The molecules have failed to mark the scar : 
So died the thought that sprung up with their jar, 

And present dreaming knows not now their cost. 

I tell you that this Thing which can forget, 
Is just as surely Death as Thought is Life; 
And Memory is but the feeble strife 

Of molecules for forms to hold them yet! 

It kills our vanity to this admit; 

But Truth is much in harmony with it. 

If I were toned to pity, I would weep! 

If I were bred in folly, I would sigh; 
But if as Faith himself, I could not keep 

The pace of such a faith that now can cry, 
Then laugh, and, cradled with some folly, sleep! 
Distressed awake, in darkness soon to die; 
Believing still the greatest truth a lie. 
Discriminations you can make to none. 
Your latest proof is likeness of the one 
Man offered first to prove he was the son 
Of — well, he knew the least who first begun 
To tell what he knew not beneath the sun! 

And progress have you made with cray-fish tread; 
"When tides have washed you forward, backward led! 
So if some fetish charm beguiles you still, 
Continue to believe it "God's good will!" 
A Mumbo Jumbo of a god is He, 

And Moloch was His likeness in Gehenna; 
The fairest vale of earth a Tophet He 

Would make to roast or bake a wretched sinner! 
A sinner less perhaps in fault than view, 
And trundled out with filth because he knew 
Not what the others all professed to know: 
And Bigotry must answer for his woe! 



138 PASSIuXS PANDEMONIUM. 

Go speak your faith and hope in Folly's ear. 
And cheer her. as such faith can fitly cheer; 
The mind of "Wisdom comes to judgment now 
By different methods, which you must allow. 
Than ever were employed in the proof 
Of Faith, or his vain matchinsr of the truth! — 



The light that Hope had brought is turned to gloom, 
And everv eye is fixed on Doubt again. 
And everv thought is struggling with its fear, 
And every rear is roused in terror up. 
Expectant of some ill that may befall 
The helplessness of those who' can not cope 
With Anger, nor the madness of the throng. 
Xo hope is there for peace and quiet now: 
The object of the speeches, too. is lost. 
And Prudence can not hold them in restraint. 
Nor Peace such struggling passions still assuage. 
The tongue of Hate has broken every bond 
That Honor vouched unto his better self: 
And since bright Hope has spoken no avail. 
Who is there yet to speak so well as ha? 
Will Honesty now settle all disputes. 
And reconcile the ends unto themselves? 
Will Justice show the balance in his scales. 
And measure out to each his rightful due? 
Will Virtue show the good of all her wi y$ 
And call the wandering passions back again 
To reason and their duty in this life? 
The better passions find no voices now 
That can be heard above the general roar: 
And what of virtue speaks at all. speaks low 
Unto the conscience that to-night is deaf. 
Or drunk with all the dark, imagined wrongs 
That Doubt and Hate and Anger speak to souls. 
A time it is to long lament in davs 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 139 

When sober judgment will return to those 
Assembled here to-night, and this wild scene 
Shall rise is visions dark to contrast those 
Of brighter cast in silhouettes of woe! 

Frivolity and Jest, and Humor, too, 
Are far beyond the pale of Gayety ; 
And Coquetry is loath to practice arts 
On whom she can or may, for Peace has fled, 
Or lurks with Fear behind some column there; 
And Prudence eyes the way that leads without, 
Where Mirth and Wit are stayed by Ridicule, 
Who, with Brutality, would bar the way. 
'Tis Melancholy's turn and sad Despair's, 
Who take no part in these festivities, 
Save that of lookers on; but with Chagrin, 
They now upbraid, or cry in childish grief. 
The first so moved to speech is dark Despair, 
Who with a quavering voice commences thus : — 

DESPAIR. 

Oh, what a world for me, 

Low, sad Despair! 
All strife and misery 
Fall to my share! 
No one to care or warn me of the thorns 

That grow along the pathway I must tread; 
No one to hide from me the sneers and scorns 
Of those with whom all sympathy is dead ; 
And Mockery is all too free 
To scoff and heap her ills on me! 

In vain I seek for Hope and Cheer! 

Within this world I find them not! 
A desert broad expands so drear 

To me all hopeless and forgot! 

Oh, what a world for me! 



140 PA . AXDEMOXirM. 

Truth, art thou true to me? 

Speaks Sec rn the fact? 
Is Faith so Lost : .: sea 
He can not act 
As Pilot to the Soul shipwrecked in doubt. 

rhal struggles in the gloom for phantom buoy? 
Tha* rides the waves, — to sink with dying shout 
Into the yawning gulf. — so like a toy 

Lost in the sea Eternity 
Has marked as grave for you and me 
I listen for reply in vain! 

The Truth speak- not — but yet, indeed, 
I think I catch this low refrain: 

•To me. what matters faith or creed? 
Truth, art thou true to me 

Oh Hope! where is thy ray 

And brighter goal? 
And whence is flown that day 
Of which was told? 
When Pleasure dwelt with Fact, and Humankind 

s let into the Castle of its dream? 
When Scorn could not combat, nor Doubts combined. 
Could dam the flow of Faith s pellucid stream. 

Whose drift was Love, and God above 
1 guide it onward to His : . 
Restore that time to ear:i again 

If thou canst prove ihy boast so well. 
Rewaj us with that which hath beT- 
So we in kindred bliss may dwell! 
O Hope! where is thy ray? 

Oh, what a world to me. 

liow. sad Despair! 
Gloom and despondency 

Alone my shai 
Hope as mirage of my vain desert. 7aith. 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 141 

And Charity a dream unrealized! 
Truth as the semblance of the Fact which saith: 
"Death desecrates the thing most highly prized!" 
And Misery remains to see 
What griefs and pains allotted me! 
In vain I seek Benevolence; 

And Pity knows not what to do; 
And Virtue finds some new defense 
For every pit Vice falls into! 
Oh, what a world to me! 

Is Providence so blind, 

Or Mercy rare, 
That Ills are unconfined 
To flay and tear 
The lacerated heart, full of the pain 

Neglect has sore afflicted long before? 
Who is it mocks when Want's appeals are vain? 
Who still can smile and see poor G-rief and know 

The sweets of life, and worldy strife 
Are ill divided in this life ? 
That Plenty frowns on Misery, 

And holds the purse that could relieve ; 
That Sorrow finds no Charity 
That can or will its ills believe? 
Is Providence so blind? 

More melancholic show the faces now. 
And with these gloomy thoughts the lights burn low, 
As though Despair had snuff'd them with her song, 
To be renamed in Anger's fiercer blaze, 
So lurid in the depths of wretchedness! 
Appalling as the darkness grows within. 
Without, some likeness spreads o'er Nature's face; 
For those dark clouds we saw within the west, 
Have broken bivouac and overcast 
The zenith with their frown. The moon's pale beam 



142 PASSION S PAXDEjWXICM. 

Is hid behind the mask of Anger there : 
The sighs of rising winds in whispers speak 
Of fury soon to come ; and lightnings flash. 
Far in the distance, and the thunder words 
Though scarcely heard, seen harbingering harm! 
'Tis now that unity is doubly felt 
'Twixt Nature and her child; and frowning dark. 
And breathing hate, in likeness here thev meet : 
Both but a while ago so meek and fair: 
Both waiting but a blast to set them off! 

Deserted would the hall have been ere this 
But that a fascination strange laid hold 
Of them and forced them to behold the scene. 
Still. Peace is gone, and Fear has crept without. 
And Cheer would leave but that his fellow. Hope. 
Will yet remain to see what can be done 
To break the force of this fierce rising storm. 
All are full roused to Bage and Danger now. 
Nor even Apathy can longer sleep 
Bedrowsed with Bacchic blood: awake the mind 
And will of Slumber, too. in times !ike this! 
Aroused, they stand and gaze as poised in war. 
Fearful of self and fearful of him near ; 
Each reading in his thoughts reproof and doubt. 
And confirmation of some other's words; 
So weighing Good and Bad. the False and True. 
In scales of passion's mould, which Prejudice 
Has balanced to his cause, unjust or just! 
Some charges brought thev scorn, but others fear, 
And some they know are true: — but who would speak 
That which would self-condemn? Hate here must bear 
The brunt of all such charges made and shield 
The heart as 'neath a tough cuirass of steel! 
But at this point bold Mockery cries out : — 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 143 

MOCKERY. 

Pshaw! I am tired of Cant! 
And all the wailings of the dolts 
That whinny, neigh like frightened colts 
Unbridled in their rage, because, forsooth, 
A curb is given unto hasty youth! 

O'er this ye whine and pant! 
Your neighbors have, — heighho! 
More privileges I know! 

But then, — ha! ha! 
What can ye do now, pray? 
Ye must learn to say, "nay," 
To passions and to wish — 
Alas! ye say but "tush!" 

This is a motley crowd! 
But more at odds their strange, wild cries, 
Their petty bickerings and sighs, 
Which clamor, clang and ring together, 
Like warning bells in foggy weather, — 
Bass, dull and sharp and loud! 
Some grievance marks, perchance, 
The face of each. Instance 

The frown, — ha! ha! 
That hangs on whose brow, pray? 
On every visage here, I say! 
Oh, for a mirror bright 
To catch this passing sight! 

Come, now! Why linger here? 
Disperse or give the lie direct! 
You each the other'd more respect! 
Come Lie, confront the Truth! And Faith face Doubt; 
And Anger soon will raise his battle shout! 
Let him who's wrong now fear! 
Ye all are right, I trow! 
Think self so anyhow; 



144 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

For else, — ho! ho! 
Ye will but simply show 
What fools move here below! 
Each one supposing he 
Holds all sincerity! 

Come! what is sum of all 

These many Passions here have said? 

That self is foll\ T rank instead 
Of Wisdom's meanest part or attribute 
That stands the mark betwixt the Man and Brute 

So beasts ye are. withal! 

At least your actions speak 

In language strong or weak, 
Of good. — heighho ! 

Of what they little know! 

And even that ignore! 

To such a pass ye've come, 

That vanity's your sum! 

So Providence is kind. 
What care ye for this Virtue's worth? 
Or fear ye at some Folly's birth? 
For Want and Plenty bloom upon the earth, 
And Peace and Pain are fellows from their birth— 
But reconcile the kind! 
At war they each with each; 
And thus the dangerous breach 

Yawns here, withal. 
The timid to appall, 
And Rashness to recall! 
And yet we argue that 
This is divine fiat! 

Pshaw! I am tired of Cant! 
No peace the soul finds when in pain: 
And Wealth to Poverty is vain; 
Penurious man gives alms to Wretchedness 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 145 

When Greed is full to surfeit with success ; 
And this, itself, is cant! 
If it be mockery, 
What more have ye to say? 

If not, behold 
What I have truly told. 
Aroused are Passions bold, 
That move with some intent. 
Their rage is now unpent! 

Stung by these words, the throng begins to sway 
This way and that; dark, threatening and wild; 
Upon the verge of flame, inflammable, 
And this the needed spark to full ignite! 

Take now a look to contrast with your first: 
That fellowship we saw, nowhere exists 
Save with those on some purposed vile intent. 
Love heads a clan but shows himself debased 
Desire is now beneath the wish of Lust, 
And Beauty has the frightened look of Care! 

Envy is envied not, and Pride, Esteem, 
Are marks for Ridicule and tongue of Spleen ; 
Their countenances are dark, their aspect such 
As vanity would scorn and Fame deride. 
Hypocrisy is unmasked to the gaze 
Of Pity and the rest, who feel no pang 
At such dejection now when Mockery 
And Slander hold the bent of tongue and will 
To wag and use them as they best defame! 
What chance has Hope, or Cheer, or Faith, or Love 
When Cavil, with the stare of Insolence, 
And frown of Hate, and tongue of Malice, sharp 
In its reproof, so hems them front and aft? 

Misanthropy is hero of the hour, 
And, with Debauchery, stands at the helm 
Of Manhood's Craft, to steer it through the deep 



146 PASSION -JS PANDEMONIUM. 

Of Passions full aroused and fiercely bent 
To wreck all good, or wreck themselves in seas 
Of Hopelessness: dash on the crags of Hate 
That lie concealed beneath this tide of Hell! 

This moment now so dark to Reason's light, 
Propitious of Life's ills alone and grief, 
Filled with the mockers of all pleasure here, 
Or that short ease too briefly spent to know 
Its measure full or its contentment rare, 
Awakens all the brooding Thoughts to woe 
And loud lament ; despairing, sinking low : 
The brightest of the fellows gathered here, 
Now swallowed in the quagmire of some doubt. 
What qualms arise among the gentler ones 
Who here are caged, and here bereft of care; 
Exposed to all the fury of the throng? 
The wailing of the winds without that sweep 
Along the terraces to moan again 
In echo back from nooks and crannies there, 
Finds consonance within with stifled screams! 

Who now uprises, dark as Erebus, 
Save for his flashing eyes whose lurid glare, 
Like beacons, seem to guide the stormy thoughts 
That swell upon the billows of their scorn? 
'Tis Madness, sure! and Frenzy feels restraint 
Unbearable, and Rage, for lack of speech, 
Is still, though sweltering in his dumb-voiced wrath. 
But ere some speech is come to vent the rest, 
Thus Madness opens flod-gates of the Storm: — 

MADNESS. 
Fools have we been to stand and listen to our own abuse, 
While these, our worthy fellows, have in us found some excuse 
In their own folly's plea, or yet to fashion well the lie 
On all our claims to virtue, worth, or sympathetic eye! 
They loud lament the world's low stage, 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 147 

But turn upon us in their rage, 

To tell us flatly we have been 

The cause of all this worldly sin! 

That they themselves, have garments clean! 

They never thought or acted mean! 

They never wronged by deed or word, — 

And yet their charges — how absurd! 

A Paradise the world were, sure, 

If filled with mortals half so pure! 

But as for me, I must confess 

I like not Sham's beseeming dress ; 

And grant me hell instead of bliss 

Amidst such decency as this! 

I scorn their ways; I them defy ; 

I vow their every word a lie! 

They've slandered me; they've slandered you;" 

Now what is best for us to do? 

Spurn them as we must spurn their speech! 

Strike deep, and deem it not a breach 

Of friendship, nor the slightest blame 

To strangle tongues that would defame! 

Come, Frenzy! To your work! And Rage, 
This is the hour to engage 

Him who has done you wrong! 
Redress is now within your way — 
You may not find another day — 

Grip some one in this throng! 
Misanthropy, now you and I 
Will seize all those who cannot fly 
From our stern wrath, — to satisfy 

The hate we bear the race! 
To none but Hate we'll yield the palm 
To do more mischief or more harm — 

And we will keep him pace! 
Strike down and slay, and heap them here! 



148 PASSION'S PAXDEMOXIUM. 

We'll teach them whom they ought to fear, 

And what they may resent! 
He who begun will soonest fall, 
Without one chance to then recall 

What speech has given vent! 

As battle cry to armies full of hate, 
These words here fall, and at the signal, they, 
Who deem themselves abused, rushed on their foes; 
So savage for revenge they see not him 
They size as one distinguished from the rest 
Whom they oppose, but eyes, with hatred's blaze, 
See enemies of all, and grinding teeth 
Mark grim determination now to wreck 
Who comes in way! Ne'er fiercer war was waged 
In Bedlam's walls where Lunacy supreme 
Reigned o'er benighted souls lost in the depths 
Of human woe! 

'Tis eye of Truth that sees 
Frenzy and Jest locked in each other's arms, 
And Love and Hate matched in contending strife: 
Pride struggling with Contempt, and Honor low 
Beneath the feet of Shame! So Gallantry 
Is met here with Offence, and Riot finds 
In Dalliance a fellow to his need, 
In Fury yet a mate! And boastful Faith 
Is slunk away at this momentous time 
To leave Contention wild in its despair. 
Is Prudence fled? Knows Violence no restraint? 
But free the hands of all to wreck and tear 
The Soul, as proud Actseon once was torn 
By succors of his care, bred so and reared? 
Aye. more than fifty hounds this Conscience wring! 

Faith flees from Scorn, and Doubt and Hope contend 
With chances most unequal in the fray; 
Profanity turns loose the words of Hate. 










Passion's Pandemonium. 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 149 

Which ring and echo back from many walls 

In darker corridors, oath meeting oath 

In all the clamor of deep sounding wrath. 

And fierce Brutality marks well the sound, 

With all his hellish deeds too dark to name. 

Patience and Peace, and all that could, have flown. 

Ere avenues to flight were barricad'd; 

And what remains are demons fierce in will; 

With one sole wish: to wreck or to be wrecked! 

O'erturned the boards that groaned beneath the feast, 
And clash the rousing uproar in their fall. 
The clatter of the plate as on the floor 
They roll and break ; adds to the mighty din, 
Which, with the warring Passions, seems a hell! 
The stools that sat there round are upset, too, 
And tangle now the feet of this wild throng, 
For some to fall on, others to be dealt 
A deadly blow from making it a tool 
To fill Wrath's end, or Rage's blinded bent! 

Within while sounds and sights like these are met, 
Without the roaring Storm bursts on the night ; 
Its lightnings cleave the sky, its thunders shake 
The solid earth beneath as pendent toy 
To be so shaken by its wish or will. 
Confusion falls in deepest gloom around, 
More dark than death, and Hell is given sway; 
And what was good is swept within its pits ; — 
Lost irredeemably whilst Hate is host, 
And ne'er again to rise immaculate! 
Destruction, loathed Destruction rules the heart, 
And ruin is the aim of every part 
Of this mad throng that yet remains to war, 
Unconquerable in their angry mood! 

The voice of Wisdom now can not be heard, 
No matter what his speech, for dumb the ears 



150 PAS SI OX S PAXDEMOXIUM. 

To any sound save Wi i bb - alone he stands, 
Grave as Harpocrates. with finger placed 
Upon his lips — training if he ma y 
The bold outbursts of Clamor and of Seold! 

us sless . the rest his attitude — 
They even him attack; and his defense, 
In teeth ;:' Force, is likeness : their kin 

The end must come ere Long, for Violence 
Has laid opposing Strength and Fury turn- 
On self with scorpion sting! Deep-mouthed Remorse 
Will soon be left alone, and Eage appeased 
By that destruction which himself has wrought. 
For heaped in desolation are the t hing s 
The early Night sc prized; and, 'mid the ruin. 
Are those —'_;; ::___r : :: •; 1 :-:.sv.: - yester-eve. 
Xow groaning in their pr strs : : helplessness ! 
Bui Bre Exhaustion has here silenced ail. 
Or truce is called for momentary breath. 
Some spirits from the Storm without glide in. 
And, taunting in their evil speech, say this: 

STORM PIRITS, 

Spii 1~ ~ : ". arknesE 
Heralds :_ Storm 

T] i ugh the nighl gi . Log, 

Move we along: 
Mission of macbiT — 
Tempters of harm: 

[evermore hoping. — 
This is our song 
We - wreck, we sally 

We sally, wreck an :" r 
With Scorn and Hate we rally. 
1 Peace and Hope we a'ta 
In duty hieing. 
Wherever spying 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 151 

Turmoil or trouble, contention or strife; 

Victorious ever 

Friendship to sever — 
We are the fell Spirits of every man's life! 

Come we in fury ; 
Come we in flash! 
Stealthily moving; 
Dense is our throng ! 
Bear ye an injury? 
Mark ye our Crash! 

Threats are we proving: 
Right we no wrong! 
We sting, we mock, we slander; 
We slander, mock, and sting! 
To Violence we pander, 
And Darkness is our king! 
Ye now defying 
Soon will be crying, 
For Frenzy heaps fury on those that defy; 
And conquer he will: 
Your bosoms he'll fill 
With rancor so foul that the Spirit will die! 

Children of Meekness, 
Offspring of Peace, 
Fury is driving 
Wills to do wrong! 
Groping in blindness, 
Ills will increase; 

Hopelessly striving — 
Hands are not strong! 
In vain ye strive and rally : 

Ye rally, strive in vain! 
'Tis Madness now can sally 
And keep this force in train! 
Time swift is flying; 



liS PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

H:zz is -:~ lying: 
C:z:zz:izz is —_:::: zzz ?.:;: is '_::•: 
I zszzzzrzzz :. lis 

i z Szz::zirz:~ zzs: zzz - :~ :".'. :• : ; : : :". — 

These S pii it s zzuch the fury spent revives. 
And storms within vie with the storm without. 

With zzzzzzzz ~-~ :■: ~:zzs zzz iasz :: : i- : - 

So desolation everywhere is seen, 

Azz ill :zsz "is in :::.r: : ; iz — zs:-? 

The fragments scattered in confusion wild. 

Azz :"z:se :zz gzests :zz: gariizr-z iz :z- t't 

S : gay and peaceful then, are groaning now 

In bitter anguish o'er their plight and pa - 

There Grief we can espy and pale Regret. 

Izgezzz: zzzizzg 1:~ -a :z t-: m-hsi-a 
Izz :z~zz: = inzzzizg szizi: -"zizz is szzzg 
Nzar -rig'r :: zzztz 3zt:zz tzzz: si a Azzzza:z 
i:"z i=: zz Irzzzlziz: c az iz. :zz ^zzs~ a 1 a - 



r : : — r s 



■ zz_z. z_zz az zzzzzzz? : zrz^zgs zzz _;-_.s 
As azz. :: Jzr :: azlsz :<zz zz^z: Iz't 

I! :s?.z:'z-. zzs z:. zis zzizl hour. 

Azz :zis is — zz: : its Aii z:az rziz 
1a a IazzzzI :zzz :"zz zzizz . zzzzzas 
~zzz zz:st Usaz-zza "Ah tzzzzAas : 
Exh - z - - 1 - - .- - : - - . lzz zisi 

I s :ay the hand of Ruin, which here has wrought 
[ts s -lf-des traction in this stroke of Hate. 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 153 

Black horror sits upon the brow of Scorn, — 
For he most sanguine least expected this; 
And Terror wild is speechless in his fear, 
While Fear, himself, is wo.e unspeakable! 

Who would have thought so dark an end had come 
To Pleasure's feast, or Passion's wrapt delight? 
Who would have thought that glare of Love should light 
The way of Wretchedness and Gloom like this? 
Who would have thought that Revelry could turn 
And bring itself to Hell in such a plight? 
Yet Error finds this end to ail his ways ; 
And Confidence is lost when Folly proves 
The faithlessness that ransoms base delights. 

The storm subsides without, and lack of strength 
Wanes struggles, too, within; the dying wails 
Alone remaining now to sink or cheer 
The Spirits left: when from the proning mass 
Swept low in fray, uprises one aghast: 
Bebattered and betattered, smeared with gore; 
Pale as to face, but bloodshot yet of eye, 
He casts that wilder orb on things around. 
It is Abandon whom we now behold; 
And he would speak, and we will hear his say : 

ABANDON. 

Go! scornful world! I care not! Go! 
Go tell thy tale and vent thy spleen on me! 
What can it hurt? Who cares? 'Tis I alone 

Who feel the sting, whilst thou canst pour 

Thy phials of Wrath upon my head, 

And say, "What thing deserves he more, 
Whom Pity thinks 'twere better he were dead?" 
I say to thee, Begone! and let me be! 
I wish to be alone. 

Go! I entreat! Bethink me dead, 
Or lost, or what thou wilt! It matters not! 



L54 PANBEM NIUM. 

I'm truly dead to thee and all thy jays 

The shiirs :: la fining Sins : r s\r." 
3r: _ -Ti rir and zit Li-t.-t's :3>:r ii^~. 
And I am los: aye, worse Than dead! 

For I ?a:i: i::z liir.: a: sizi-E-iiiizg ve: ^7:1 a 

".-•;- i-r-zLiz-r: niif= : :: ner-E :"-:= 1::- arlis naag':i: 

Foi Zl-r . .."-t It r - 

- Leave me! I command it thee! 
Thou hast no further claim upon my wilL 
My youth is passed the day for my reform 
Z-s ~ is: 1 m:: z±z'-' - ^r 

N: -iir:in^ri :: ligii: :: :i_:.:_: 



srin 



A rlra- ::t:t ziayiia:: 






I ;.:" riirrishrd :h.:'"igi:: :!.--> : : :/_ ~:ris :: :..::: 
Suffice it that it was — 1 tow g 
And Let me lire alone in iieams 

" : TZ2.T s~f-: :irif I 11 1::::~ n: more — 
The hour is growing late: — it seems — Li seems! — 

01. Zfll I:tS FlitIi s: hari? — I r^in — I fair. — 
3a: If: i: live . :.'.. . ir. - 

S:av — Z'-Lsa — Mr: li:-l:s I ; tt . g'n: 
It is 1 passing ray :: what I was 

It hovers by my side — the sight — 
Bat, lo! I understand it now: To share 
Its gloomy fate it beckons me! — because? — 
Whc axes — Se Hate rei ays 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 155 

G-o! Go! I will not have you here! 
Withdraw yourselves within that carapace 
That now entombs your vaunted sympathy 

And sets at liberty that leer! 

Ye shall not mock me more! Though wrong 

I've done, no wicked, scornful sneer 
Can drive me now into your saintly throng ; 
Nor force me 'long the godly path ye trace! 
You, I can yet defy! 

Who can foretell the fate of youth. 
The brightest dawn may be o'ercast with clouds, 
Ere loftiest peaks of Life the sun has kissed ; 

The heavens shake, — shocked by that Truth 

Flashed with the thunder of the storm 

That dumbfounds Wisdom's cant! Insooth, 
To struggling man there comes this foul alarm, 
When he has judgment set: To grave-yard shrouds 
All come, and none are missed! 

Yea, Solitude, where is thy charm? 
Within thy quiet shades let me but hide, 
And this mad world may wrangle on and tell 

My faults to all! What further harm 

Would come to me could I now lie 

My head at rest and let thy calm 
Steal o'er my wearied life? — Repose? — say, die! 
In truth, I deem it well!— 



The Storm has swept apace; the night is done; 
And in the East 'tween flying clouds we catch 
A gleam of dappled gray, announcing dawn. 
A dawn to Day and Man whose passions slunk 
Away within the darkness of the night. 
The Hall that shone so bright that yester-eve, 
Now wears the calm of death, and in the gray 
Of early morn, seems shrouded in its pall! 



156 PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 

The Hurricane without marked lesser waste 

Than that which wrecked within, and ruin, ruin. 

Enfeebles tongue to tell of all ones sees! 

But from the wreckage of these Passions' blight 

Awakened Truth comes with the breaking light ; 

Comes from retreat where he had seen the strife 

That laid the angry Passions low in death. 

Comes now to see what yet remains of Life. 

As a full sense of what is seen is felt. 

As words are found this sense to full express. 

He gives them speech to thus soliloquize: — 

TRUTH. 

And this is now the end of yesternight. 

When youth and Beauty met with Pleasure here 
To pass the hour with Mirth and gay Delight; 

To meet with Friendship, Love, and welcome Cheer! 

Who would have thought the end had been so drear! 
Who could foresee such misery as this? 

Who then had dreamed a smile were now a sneer, 
To mock that peaceful laughter and the bliss 
Found in the fellowship of Love? Xot I. ywis! 

My senses real o'er what has come to pass; 

My eyes are dim o'er what I now behold! 
Is this the throng so gay? This frightful mass 

Of bodies strewn and stampt in ghastly mould? 

Yea. hearts that beat in warmth to touch is cold! 
The eye that flashed with love is set and glazed: 

It recked not of a fear — too fiercely bold! 
Too quick the spark of Anger, and it blazed 
To burn itself as well, and leave the world amazed! 

And this is Life: In Childhood all is bright. 

Existence is before it and the hope 
Of future greatness, strength and worldly might 

To overcome all hardships, and to cope 



PASSION'S PANDEMONIUM. 157 

With things athwart its pathway's rising slope. 
The mid-day comes to find it struggling on, 

No nearer to its goal; with narrowed scope! 
The evening finds it languid grown and wan; 
The burden of it all then held as Death's sure pawn! 

And this is man: The crowning point of Life; 

Heaped up of many ills, but pleasures few; 
The sum of Youth's endeavors and the strife 

For what in measure justly pays so few! 

If scion of brag Manhood only knew 
Its fairest promises but hid the blight 

That cankered at its core, it would eschew 
Life's acme in this world and scorn the height 
Fame struggles for: the light that fades at last in Night! 

And this is Fame: Yesterday all unknown; 

To-day in high esteem; to-morrow low, 
And memory forgot which now would own 

Such merit just, — avowed by all as so! 

So brief the word of Fame breathed here below! 
Yet man will ever strive for such a bliss, 

And struggle fiercely that the world may know 
That he once suffered all its ills, I wis! 
For deem it otherwise, who can account for this? 

And this is Death: Cessation of this Life 

That moves and animates the Being now: 
The rest of Motion and the still of Strife: 

Nor more than this we know nor further, how 

The Soul shall fare — this truth we must allow! 
If happy Realms await us all it seems 

'Tis Wisdom that should know; but yet somehow 
It does not: and 'tis only in our dreams 
That Fancy points the flashing of the heavenly beams. 



1 B 8 PASSIOX S PAXDEMOXIUM. 

So Conscience is the fchonsand-tongued woes, 

That wake the sorrowing Sool to hapless grief 
That mock the slumber of each thoughts repose, 
That tell us plainly Pleasure's ends are brief! 
And with the tongue :: '. . ndoi heart :: thief, 

It gives no rest to body :r :; mind, 

But pricks with fear, and tortues with belie:. 
That all is manifest which was consigned 
Within the bosom dark that Lisrht could never find 



AMATORIALS. 



NOTHING TO DO BUT GROW LANGUID AND LOVE! 

When soft summer winds gently sway the green trees, 

And butterflies lazily float on the breeze; 

When clouds in their richness would cream the deep blue, 

A haziness skim the sky-vault with its hue, 

And flowers in perfume so welcome the day, 

And reflect their rich glow on the high arch above; 
The heart that is listless will glance up to say: 

"Nothing to do but grow languid and love!" 

A picture then comes so enchantingly fair, 
Where lovers and flowers would equally share 
The balmy sweet shade; where maids decollete, 
In garments so loose, hold hearts to their sway; 
Where eyes speak the soul, and tongues tell the tale 

No triteness can mar (for the story of love 
Will live in its youth), then the moment we hail — 
"Nothing to do but grow languid and love." 

The forest, the streams, the bright sunny glades, 
The frolicsome boys, and the dreamy-eyed maids ; 
The hammocks and swings, the lawn-tennis greens, 
The nooks and the crannies, the vine-trellised screens, 
And every odd place of a summer resort, 

All whisper of that which the heart can so move ; 
When the world with its bustles and ills are as naught — 

"Nothing to do but grow languid and love!" 

While babbling brooks, leaping pebbles and falls, 

Roll on to the sea, their laughter recalls 

Deep memories hidden away in our hearts, 

When we were as young as the love that now starts 



160 AMATORIALS. 

The fond recollections to dreaming again 

Of sunshine and summer: the sweet, trusting dove 

That nestled with us! — What humor, my pen? — 
••Nothing to do but grow languid and love." 

YOUTH AND LOVE. 

How happy Youth with Youth to be 

Though tongue doth lack the glibbing art ; 

How bright the day when Love is free 

To while the hours listlessly 

And give love freedom to the heart. 

An hour passed in love like this. 

Is worth a life's philosophy: 
And though it pass an empty bliss. 
Eewarded by ephemeral kiss, 

It is the soul of ecstasy! 

Twill live forever in the dream 

That quickens life of sluggish ease 
'Twill be to darkened days the gleam 
That lights old Age"s wasting stream 
Which flows to Night of blank release. 

AH. THIS LIFE IS ALL A DREAM. LOVE! 

Ah. this life is all a dream, love. 

And our hopes chimerical! 
What we see in fancy here, love. 

Is the guise that covers all! 

Could we be as fancy bids love. 
Could we know no pain or ruth: 

Could our minds contented be. love. 
With the things we find in truth. 

Seeing naught but heart's desire, love. 

Knowing naught but what would cheer. 
Finding all that wish could crave, love. 

Feeling life's concerns were clear: 



/ DREAMED I'D FOUND A LOVE. 161 

Then, indeed, 'twere paradise, love, 

Heaven sure and happiness — 
But the truth we thus disguise, love, 

For life's ills we must confess! 

'Tis not wisdom to deny, love, 

That which hearts can bless or break ; 

Ever let the truth be light, love, 
Lest from folly's dream we wake. 

If we space the day with night, love, 

Sunshine will the fairer seem; 
If the pains of life we bear, love, 

Hope will come a sweeter dream. 

I DREAMED I'D FOUND A LOVE. 

The day was sultry; restless was my heart; 

My thoughts disturbed with dreams and longings sweet; 
I sought a shade; I cast aside my part, 

And 'neath a bough that shed the scorching heat, 
I threw me down to rest and revery's dream 

And watched the rompings of each sunny beam. 

Within the verdant garment of the tree 

Methought I saw fair nymphs of eld at play ; 

And they beguiled me, and my faith could see 
What truth cannot : The presence of a fay 

Unreal to all save fancy and my dream — 

Mirage of idle thoughts upon a fabled stream! 

And so my thoughts unto my heart were turned, 
Deceived by that which many a bard has thrilled ; 

I sought the form for which my soul so yearned — 
The image that some love has ever willed 

The all too credulous faith of longing man 

Who dreams, but Doubt's abyss can never span! 

Why could not I some object find to love? 

Why could not Love come nestle here with me? 



162 AMATORIALS. 

Why could not Fate so mate me as the dove, 

And let me coo my life in faith as she? 
No languorous sense can catch Love's subtile plan — 

'Tis fable all when eye of truth would scan. 

Then came the troop in panoramic view, 

The mind's eye passing as some Banquo's ghost; 

Bright, sparkling eyes, and hair of every hue, 
And forms divine, and faces of the host 

Of houris 'round pavilions of the Moor, 

Who in his Paradise sees things of life galorel 

And Blonde and Brunette tripped with lithsome grace, 
And olive tints vied with the lily white; 

And shy-eyed Modesty, with blushing face, 

G-lanced meekly as she smiled and passed from sight — 

The eye so singling her from all the rest, — 
The creature of them all by Virtue blest! 

And so I lay and watched the passing throng, 
And pictured each a love for me to woo; 

And in my rapture I could hear the song 
Of mated elves that shook the dome of blue 

With harmony of wish, and love's desire — 
To fill my passion's heart with ardent fire! 

The train had passed, and then there came a one, 

A composite of all that I had seen! 
My heart leaped madly, for the shade had won 

Its truest love, and so that love was keen 
To hold and e'er acknowledge her the quest 

Of all my life: Love's promise richly blest. 

Combined with beauty and with grace, a soul 

Beamed from her eyes, and in their depths a love 

Welled forth all other feelings to control; 
A sweet simplicity in meekness strove 

To render act as fair as her own life, 

And free the world of doubt and wrangling strife! 



THE GAME OF LOVE. 163 

"Where may I meet her? where's her blessed shrine?" 
I racked my brain for answer to this thought. 

"Is she Love's vestal? Can she yet be mine?" — 
I'd slept, indeed, and in my slumber caught 

An eidolon my waking never knew: 
A shadow-grace lost in ethereal blue! 

THE GIRL THAT I LOVE LOVES NOT ME. 

I watch the love of those in peace, 

I see affection's sweet return, 
I note the bliss of love's increase, 

I mark the mood that can not spurn; 
I watch them, for by Fate's decree, 
The girl that I love loves not me! 

Who knows not longing that is vain: 
Who knows not quest without reward; 

Who knows no fellowship with pain 
Can feel no sympathetic chord 

For one who seeks what can not be — 

The girl that I love loves not me! 

O, withered Hope, is this thy end? 

Is love's requital ever naught? 
Must I all pleasure hence forfend, 

Or find a blank in what is sought? 
I sure behold my hopes at sea — 
The girl that I love loves not me! 

THE GAME OF LOVE. 

A Pel cus with a changing wife, 

A Thetis with her lord; 
Deception wins the boon of life, 

And trickeries accord! 

A lover with his tryst and vow. 

A maiden bound in troth; 
Dissemblance comes with mocking hows. 

And Faith is losl to both! 



164 AMATORIALS. 

TO THE FLIRT. 

Once you were my sweetheart, girl, 

And with dreams my soul was full ; 
Now you think me quite a churl — 

Well, you played me! 
And if love-glance now is dull. 

Why, you made me! 

Better strangers ever than 

Sweethearts who would so deceive; 
Better hate than love to fan 

Flame that dies so! 
For the heart can not believe 

That which lies so! 

When the soul is full of love 

Is it right to stab its trust? 
I for your regard once strove — 

But you played me! 
So you find its loss is just 

What you gave me! 

ROMANCE WITH A WILY TONGUE. 

Romance with a wily tongue. 

G-lowing cheeks and eyes, 
Comes with vain tales, sanguine sprung. 

Full of hopes and sighs. 

Ears attuned and hearts a-still 
Stand the gaping throngs: 

Ever ready is the will 
To beguiling songs ! 

Heaven dawns with burst of hope. 

Paradise is near; 
Fancy hides from eyes the scope 

Of life's ills so drear, 

Hearkening only to the song 
Of its own delight, — 



UNREALIZED, 165 

Pain will ere soon come along 
With its pang and fright! 

Once I had in silly youth 

Such a dream as this! 
Now I see alone the ruth 

Of imagined bliss! 

AGE AND LOVE. 

A Spirit of Unrest, all hoary, wild, 

Flew out from Night into a glorious Day, 

And all the wonderous world before it lay, 

And Age there gazed as some bewildered child! 

This Borealis of the dream of Youth 

Was far beyond the range of any truth 

That cloistered Age from brooding Thoughts had caught, 

Though lapse of time unceasingly they wrought. 

The soul-infusion stole the stamp of Age, 

And backward rolled each day's recorded page, 

And young again became this Spirit straight, 

With flippant fancy and with nimble gait; 

And Dawn of Life which ere seemed all so far, 

Was come again with rays aureola! 

The joyous Youth seized on the light above — 

And all the glow was but the blush of Love! 

UNREALIZED. 

Methought I saw a picture fair: I dreamed! 
My mind, enrapt in self, essayed to hold 
The thing as real and all of that it seemed! 
A figment of the brain and truly bold 
To stir the sluggish heart that ere was cold 
To simple faith, that dream which wish inspires, 
Might kindle up sweet hope though Death enfold 
All that the longing soul of love desires, 
And wise Philosophy tell of life's wasting fires! 



166 AMATORIALS. 

But let the head lie pillowed so and dream! 
Tis ail that man can draw of comfort here 
Where shams still breed, life's countless ills to teem 
Within the world — so little left to cheer! 
Let Fancy come and smooth away the care. 
It were a boon if but one ill it drove 
Beyond the pale of thought, or eased one fear 
Of any bitter doubt with which it strove. 
Or caused the heart to turn to its own treasure-trove. 

"Tis here again the vision which I saw! 
There stands a creature fair beyond compare! 
Dark eyes has she, or blue? By what set Law 
Is beauty judged? By brown or golden hair? 
Methinks she can have neither still be fair. 
Compound both in which a love can trace 
The starry eyes of blue, the umber lair 
Of wish that speaks such womanly charm and grace, 
Though grace, we know, lies not alone in woman's face. 

Conceive her as you will: her dark or fair. 
With flowing strands of gold or sombre hue. 
Or hazel eyes or blue — I do not care! 
The picture I would sketch and paint for you. 
Is of a likeness that I would were true. 
Is one of a queenly mien with love 
Suffusing brow and cheek: no pert nor shrew. 
But full of gentle pulsings as the dove 
That coos contentment with its solitary iove. 

I gaze within those eyes so bottomless ; 

I read within their depths of hope and cheer; 

I gather courage that this life may bless : 

I con brave thoughts to quicken life so drear: 

I find a solace there for every care! 

How dead is faith to realize this truth: 

Due to imagination i> all here! 



/ HIDE MY L VE'S A WA Y. 167 

The world is just as bare, I fear, insooth, 
As ever to that eye whhich sees no visioned truth! 

My heart now follows all the throngs I see 
For likeness of this image of my mind. 
I can not tell it things can never be 
As fashioned in a dream. Despair will find 
It soon enough — be yet a little kind! 
I would not forfeit all the sweets of life 
In piercing the vain guise of humankind; 
For what of worth is all this fruitless strife 
If its sole due be man without reward or wife? 

ONLY IN FUN! 

I once had my day with that charming girl ; 

But I'm out of it now! 
To me she was the sweetest in all the world, 
Had the brightest eye and the dearest curl, 
And a smile that set my heart awhirl 

Till it vowed her a vow; 
But that heart is sick and my faith is churled, 

For I'm lost out now! 

I gave her the love of a generous heart, 

And I thought I had won! 
I bestowed on her riches of fancy and mart, 
Accepted her humors and hid my own smart ; 
I thought there was truth in her feminine art 

And a love was begun: 
To a queen's vain taste I played a fool's part — 

And she was in fun! 

I HIDE MY LOVES AWAY. 

Somewhere within my busom deep, 
Where all my Passion's brood I keep, 

I hide my loves away; 
I can not let the cold world know 



InS AJIATORIALS. 

What cherished thoughts lie hidden s- 
Lest it might then betray. 

So sacred is the throb of love 

So vain the end the fact would prove. 
I hold it better worth 

To hide hit tcndest ar-eaaas — ithix. 
And leave the world with -11 its sit. 
Still i^ntrant :: such birth 



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- - ' - - ^ p. ■>— — 







Whenever tongue :x grie: would rail 
I secret still would aeex its tale 

Axd shew rxaxhix:". :-. srxile 
Axd live a 11- to hide rnv grief. 
Since tear. 1" know, weald :r:ng relief. 

Axd none should guess ray guile 

MAY HAVE CLAY FEET. 

I love her — yes: axd she loves me 
Wr are betrothed : v lover's vows. 

Then whv do wo n:t rxarrv? W c 
A wise rhilcsophv espouse: 

u.t s ax; ideal, rxv Cr'- : ,^'. 

1 : m i r -;- in her sigh* 



AMOR NON M ORITUR. 169 

Iconoclasts we would not be — 
We drift apart, just as you see! 

Think but a moment, you will find 

A reason that can well explain: 
Ideals are within the mind. 

A hero to the touch remain? 
You little know this flesh and blood, 
What ebbs and flows are in the flood 
Of time that measures out each life— 
Th' ideal rather than the wife! 

The best foot forward — that's the game! 

Each one so plays his little part! 
We hide as best we can each blame; 

We woo — to wed an alien heart! 
Great faults we find however frank; 
We grant our tempers leave to thank I 
Nay, should I marry let it be 
Not her I hold ideally! 

'TIS NEITHEE HERE NOR THERE. 

'Tis now we wish to hold Love close, 

In failure feel despair; 
But when our fortune chances to — 

'Tis neither here nor there! 

The spell is broken when we clasp 

A maiden to our heart; 
For then we soon discover that 

Her charm was in her art! 

AMOR NON MORITUR. 

Meeting as the sunny skies 

In dead of winter, 
Are the longings and the sighs 

Of Love's distemper; 
Dying for one smile or glance, 
Sighing for some passion's trance, 



170 AMATORIALS. 

Pierced by elfish sting and lance — 
But dies it never! 

Hope uprises as a dove — 

Love is so clever! 
Seeks another thing; to love: 

Loves that as ever! 
Finds an object to its heart, 
Lavishes its words and art, 
Every day it plays a part — 

But dies it never.! 

PHILOSOPHY SAYS. 

Man loves when selfishness doth reign; 

He hates when broken is its rule; 
He fears when knowledge would explain 
The trend of passions, how they train 

The will to make it Folly's tool. 

Love is of Lust, and Lust of Life, 

And Life is spark through this desire; 

It is a chain linked here in strife, 

And every forging is still rife 
With evils of the natal fire! 

How low soever sprung that germ 

It Kindred bears to all the past; 
And. though exalted, still a worm 
Which stings and bites an earthly term 

To wiggle back to dust at last! 

O LOVE, THOU WERT SO FAIR, AND I DISHONORED 

THEE! 

I met thee, O my love, one gladsome day 

When all the world seemed happy in its youth; 

We greeted, O my sweet, as strangers may, 
But saw within our lingering glances truth 

That proved to bursting love affinity, 



PLATONIC LOVE. Ill 

Yet hinted not of shadow, nor of ruth — 
Thou wert so fair, so sweet, and I was loved by thee! 

We met again, O love, and hearts grew bold; 

We folded soul to soul in fond embrace; 
We then forgot that all the world is cold — 

So fraught were we with love! We did not trace 
The path of right, for all our wills were free, 

Nor saw a fault, but only winning grace — 
And so my love, my fair, I thus dishonored thee! 
We loitered in the wilds of Love's retreat, 

And, heart to heart, we banished doubting thought; 
We trod the dells with love's unwearied feet, 

And lived within the spell enchantment wrought; 
We found the bliss that passions would set free, 

But wherein virtue's due is never sought — 
And so my love, my sweet, I thus dishonored thee! 
We dallied and we fell through love's desire! 

We tasted sweets unhallowed in G-od's sight! 
We gave our wish the will of ardor's fire; 

We reveled in the glow of passion's light! 
We found ourselves in lust's tempestuous sea 

Where all is fancied bliss, but virtue's blight — 
And so my love, my sweet, I thus dishonored thee! 
O, if thy gentle spirit can forgive, 

Its sweetness may ameliorate this wrong! 
But never more in peace can honor live 

That thus subdued the will in virtue strong! 
And I the wage of sin's iniquity 

Will look to find 'mid all the world's vast throng! 
And this I reap, O love, since I dishonored thee! 

PLATONIC LOVE. 

Platonic love is all a dream 

Philosophy's offspring: 
Love has no calm or sickly mien; 

Full passionate his sting. 



172 AMATORIALS. 

Deceive not self when you can see; 

This fact was ever true, 
That Love is fierce and wild and free — 

Which even Plato knew! 

ESTRANGEMENT. 
After this we no more meet 

As we used to do; 
In the busy mart and street 

Strangers. I and you! 
Old romances now are dead. 
Bitter thoughts remain instead — 

Blight and killing dew! 
Nevermore shall passions cleave 

Hearts with you and me; 
Some distrust will undeceive — 

Presto! let it be! 
To a loving tryst we came — 
Who for broken vows now blame? 

Stormy souls have we! 

Love was sweet and full of hope — 

Pity it should fall! 
Strength it lacked with time to cope — 
Death must come to all! 
So our little dream is past ; 
Sweethearts were not things to last: 

Cold is love's recall! 

UNREQUITED. 

Alas! I'm fettered by Love's thong! 
For in the passing file and throng 

Are none save her I've lost to bring 
The old time gladness to my song! 

My soul hath lost its nimble wing: 
Love cometh not with bursting spring; 

It cometh only with those eyes 
That turn away when I would sing! 



BECAUSE. 173 

It cometh but to start a sigh ; 
It cometh but to wring a cry 

From my poor faint and bleeding heart! 
It cometh but to gasp and die! 

And yet, ye gods, the bitter part 
Of life is mine; and mine the smart 

At loss of all I dearly prize; 
And mine the woeful lack of art! 

THE FOOL. 

(Text from Kipling.) 

"A fool there was and he made his prayer" — 

Even as you have done! 
"To a rag and a bone and a hank of hair" — 

And favor found he none! 

He gave his love and he gave his all — 

As a fool will ever do; 
And the pay he got, if pay at all, 

Was a fool's reward and duet 

His gifts she kept and the thanks returned — 

As only a girl knows how — 
Was a look made blank and a word that spurned 

And a freezing, distant bow! 

And the fool grew faint though the fool was fond, 

And the fool lost hope in the game; 
And the "bone" and the "hank" in the "rag" beyond 

Felt no regret nor shame. 

So the fool was paid, and the fool was laid 

Aside for the passing throng! 
And the fool learnt late that his love-dreamt maid 

Was worth nor sigh nor song! 

"BECAUSE." 
Her lips were dainty; 
Her eyes deep blue; 
Her locks were russet: 



174 AJIATORIALS. 

A rosy hue 
Suffused her cheeks 
And left the miss 
Ripe for a kiss! 

Sylph-like and comely; 

A Hebe mould! 
Aroused my heart was 

To her enfold! 
Shy eyes invited: 

But when I tried 

She fain had cried! 

My grasp she flitted! 

A Thetis she, 
And I a Peleus 

In Arcacly! 
No tear was there: 

It was her art! 

I knew her heart! 

A roguish challenge 
TVas in that eye, 

And if she thought 
Me to defy! 

Say, what would you? 
And must I pause 
At her "because?" 

A woman's reason! — 
Yet still that glance !- 

Beware, O maiden, 
How you entrance! 

An amorous eye 
Sees only lips 
For lover sips! 

Her lips were dainty, 

Her eyes were blue; 
She was a goddess 



DREAM FACES IN THE FIRE. 175 

To me most sure! 
Now where's the blame? 
Love brooks no laws, 
Nor maid's "because!" 

DREAM FACES IN THE FIRE. 
Dream faces in the fire I see 

As I sit lonely by its side 
And note the passage of the tide 

Of fortune that has left to me 
Few hopes which can abide! 
Within the curling smoke and flame 

I trace the faces once so dear; 
I see again with vision clear 

The forms of those I may not claim, 
Though longing brings them near! 

I see the form of her I love; 

I see myself in love's embrace; 

I gaze into a soulful face 
And try my deathless love to prove — 

I fill this vacant place! 
A castle rears its lofty dome; 

Gray corridors are opened wide; 

Within I see myself and bride, 
And all this pictured dream our home — 

She ever by my side! 
Anon there comes a shout of praise, 

And vistas of the future part, 

And all the longings of my heart 
Are there within the coals ablaze, 

Frescoed in fiery art! 
Say, must I call them fitful dreams? 

So rouse my doubts to tell me why 

These visions are so vague and shy, 
And what I here behold, but seems, 

To quickly fade and die? 



176 AMATORIALS. 

SHE TELLS ME ONE THING WITH HER TONGUE, 
ANOTHER WITH HER EYES! 

I have a winsome sweetheart strange. 

A creature rare to scan. 
Who is the fairest, dearest elf 

That e'er tormented man! 
She teases, toys and twits my love. 

And laughs at my faint heart 
When in distress I would believe 

Her humor or her art ! 
She smiles, she jilts and snubs and guys 

Ale with her jeers and sighs. 
To tell me one thing with her tongue, 

Another with her eyes! 

A roguish, cov. a charming girl 

With looks demure and wise, 
Who listens to my tale of love 

With a well feigned surprise : 
And in her sweet and blandest way 

My passions would deplore. 
While blush of cheek and halting voice 

Would whisper something more! 
But lips are taught their ruder speech 

And her sweetheart denies, 
To tell him one thing with her tongue, 

Another with her eyes! 

Now what am I to do with her, 

This cruel, charming miss? 
Must I forever be abashed. 

Or seize and by a kiss 
Show her that all her arts are vain. 

Her secret sure is known. 
And she is mine, as I am hers. 

And I will claim my own. 
And heed no more desembling words. 



IF YOU WERE ONLY MINE. 177 

But, mindful of her sighs, 
Will teach her tongue to tell the love 
That smiles within her eyes? 

IF YOU WERE ONLY MINE! 

If you were only mine, dear heart, 

If you were only mine, 
And we were never more to part, 

What heavenly bliss were mine! 
For hand in hand we'd take our way 
And reck not of the world's wild fray — 

If you were only mine! 

If you were only mine, my love, 

If you were only mine, 
I'd find for you a happy cove 

And build therein a shrine. 
There heart to heart we'd know such bliss 
That naught could mar our happiness — 

If you were only mine! 

If you were only mine, my sweet, 

If you were only mine, 
My soul would feel itself complete — 

If you were only mine! 
No farewells to my dreams I'd say, 
No lagging footsteps through the day — 

If you were only mine! 

If you were only mine, my life, 

If you were only mine, 
How easy were this worldly strife- — 

If you were only mine! 
The heartaches of the world were o'er, 
Its wild contending thoughts no more, 

If you were only mine! 



1T8 AMATORIALS. 

CAN LOVE BE DUMB? 

My Love in love's sweet Dreamland 

In bashfulness abides, 
And to the trees and daisies 

Her secent love confides ; 
And they to listening wind-ears 

Repeat the story told, 
And I from lisping wind-sighs 

And trembling of the wold, 
And throb of all the flowers 

That blush in red and gold, 
And reeds which give their whistle, 

And birds that chirp in song, 
And murmering brook that dashes 

In sportful leaps along, 
And leaves which sway in silence, 

And sun-ray of the sky, 
Must catch the subtle story 

Love whispers low and shy. 

Yet reeds of old to Midas 

Had tongues that could relate, 
And ears which heard the story 

That was his doom by Fate, 
E'er afterwards did whisper 

It to the passing winds 
For them thenceforth to bluster 

It to remote confines; 
And secret of old Midas 

Was not a secret long, 
As tale of his misfortune 

Was told in every song. 

No more do reeds and winds, love, 
Keep silent tongues to-day, 

Nor shyness hide the heart, love, 
That seeks to break its stay; 



THE TRUE EQUIVALENT. 179 

Nor do the romping elves, dear, 

Forget within their sport 
That what you said to them, love, 

Was for my ears report! 
So straightway in their gambols 

To me the tale is borne, 
And none of all its sweetness 

Is in the least way shown; 
And all your shyness is, love, 

Explained at last to me! 
Your modest eye and glance, love, 

Are all that they should be; 
For I now know my shy love 

Is true love here to me! 

THE TRUE EQUIVALENT. 

(Frigga, the Scandinavian goddess of love, wept tears of gold, according to the fable.) 

In ancient runics once we read 
Alliterative lines which said 

Love was a goddess, truly; 
A goddess all devoid of art, 
Who never played a wanton's part, 
Nor measured wealth against a heart, 

For compensation, surely, 

Was in affections purely! 

And, drawing things a little fine, 
It was an age of love divine 

In which love ruled supremely; 
And he was then deemed base and bold 
Who intimated love was sold 
Within the public mart for gold, 

Or bartered, just as meanly, 

For what was only seemly. 

It was a Scandinavian dream, 

Where things unreal could truly seem, 



180 AMATORIALS. 



And lack of wealth was glory; 
There Frigga was a lucky dame, 
Unlike another known to fame, 
And tears with her was no man's blame, 
Since they, as per the story, 
Were wealth in love's own foray 1 

For Frigga, so the tale would state, 
Man's wants and needs did estimate, 

And saw what love needs mostly; 
And so the shining drops that fell 
She turned to gold, and blessed the spell- 
To fill the lover's coffers well; 

And, since to cease was costly, 
She cried through courtship mostly! 

Now this is not the case with those 
Whom other peoples' wisdom chose 

As goddesses of love, sir, 
For amours had another part 
Than weeping golden tears of art, 
And vice versa moves the heart 
With us, as you can see, sir, 
Though gold it takes to please her! 

Fair Venus pandered everything 
And Aphrodite froth would bring, 

Astarte came of passion ; 
But goddess of the Norseman's love 
Herself more worthy sure would prove, 
And e'en in her tears she strove 

To start a welcome fashion, 

And tariff take of passion! 

Bubastis was a child of scorn ; 
Poor Durga, too, a maid forlorn 

Beside this love of beauty, 
For gold it takes to win, perchance, 



LOVE'S RHAPSODY. 181 

From any modern maid a glance, 
While Cupid wields a golden lance, 

By greed taught as his duty, 

To wound or catch a beauty! 

The halcyon days are past and gone 

Wherein a goddess' tears forlorn, 
Were put to such a profit ; 

The Frigga now whose tears fall hot, 

When desiccated, gold are not ; 

And neither is it Love's poor lot 
To sow such seed or crop it, 
While Greed stands here to stop it! 

The moral of it all is this: — 

And you will find it empty bliss 
If you be looking vainly, 

For love unmixed with selfish greed, 

Since Wealth is truly Love's first need, 

And compensation is its creed: 

And so the fact stands plainly, — 
Love waits on Wealth now mainly I 

LOVE'S RHAPSODY. 

Would you like to know my heart's fairest girl? 
She's dimpled and rosy, with teeth all of pearl, 
And mischievous eyes, and a festive, wild, curl 

That tangles your heart and winds it up in 
The meshes of love ere your thoughts can begin 
To dream of the trap you're Calling right in! 

Would you like to see my fair little love? 

She's as sweet us the nestling, meek turtle-dove 

That coos in its home in the deep, Doughy grovel 

She's such a sweet gaoler you'd say farc-you-well 
With a sigh of regret were you loosed ErODQ her spell, 
While all the wide world you lain then would tell 



182 AMATORIALS. 

Of the rapture she wrought by her magic and art. 
The coquetry sweet of her shy, roguish, part, 
Which stole from you all the love of your heart! 

Would you like to glance into my love's sweet eyes, 
And behold there the glories of earth and of skies? 
The bloom of the world and all the dear ties 

Which bind human hearts to their kind here below 
To crown a man's life with the sweet sacred glow 
That's born of the love that a love can bestow? 

My own little love is a bonny, sweet maid; 

A Peri compared were a wild, elfin, jade, 

A Houri. indeed, though the recompense paid 

The faith of a Turk, is not the reward 

That her love is to those who can happily accord 

Dominion to her when her humor's to lord! 

My love has a way that is love's own rule: 
She a mastership holds in folly's sweet school. 
And philosophy turns into science of fool! 

And the wisest of saws she casts to the wind. 
While the heart she proceeds to coquettishly bind 
To her Ixion wheel of love unconfined! 

As a captive I languish in bondage so sweet, 
And I meet, as I imagine the gods would meet. 
My love in the maze of my own wild conceit. 

I can see brightest stars in the depths of her eyes. 
Hear the storm of love's rage in her soft-spoken sighs, 
Feel the doom of my life if she once but denies! 

For philosophy flies when my love draws nigh. 
And the demon of doubt she can mock and defy, 
Since my wish is to hold her. the dream of my sigh! 

She is always so fresh, and she blushes so fair 
At my love-lighted eyes ; and her every care 
Seems to prove that the freshness of youth is there! 



DISCREETLY WISE. 183 

WHEN LOVE AND I BREAK RANK. 

When Love and I in company 

Stroll leisurely along, 
The world is full of harmony 

And every sound is song. 
But changed is all this blissful scene 

And vistas stretch out blank 
When truth would turn the mind a-wene, 

And Love and I break rank. 

When Love and I with souls attune 

G-aze in each other's eyes, 
Then every season is as June 

And sunny all the skies. 
But when alarm has broken sway 

And tongue has been too frank, 
All gloomy is the brightest day 

When Love and I break rank. 

When Love and I in happy pride 

Would claim the others will, 
And so believe that "groom" and "bride" 

Are what the soul can fill, 
'Tis pity then to break the spell 

And prove the dream a prank, 
By showing all is not so well 

When Love and I break rank. 

DISCREETLY WISE. 

(The Vampire permittinjr.) 

A fool, perhaps, but he made no prayer — 

("Even as you and I,") 
To doll-faced baby or lady fair; 
Not that he did not wish or care, 
But that he found no profit there — 

(Even as you and I!") 



184 AMATORIALS. 

ZOROLIE. 
Zorolie, in by-gone days 

Thou wast wont to smile with grace; 
Thou wast kind, and sunny ways 

Rivaled charms of thy sweet face. 
Has time metamorphosed all? 
Wouldst thou mem'ries ne'er recall? 
Hast thou, too, forgotten me, 
Zorolie? 

Zorolie, in that sweet past, 

Which, to thee, I fear, is dead, 

Were impressions born to last 
Just so long as fancy fed, 

Then to pass and leave behind 

Naught to e'er recall to mind? 

Dost thou not remember me, 
Zorolie? 

Fair one, here within this world 
Is enough to turn man's head, 

Render any mortal churl, 

Blast his fondest hopes quite dead! 

And when hope doth waver so, 

Is it right to snuff its glow? 

Leave it naught of love to see, 
Zorolie? 

In the passage of the day 

Light and shadows come and go, 
In life's transit Time may play 

Truant to Hope's flush and glow; 
And obscured that hope will fall 
Darkness will bright thoughts appall 
Let thy light then, fairer be, 
Zorolie! 

Yea, my sweet, within this heart 
Lie emotions hid from view; 




Zorolie. 



ZOROLIE. 185 



Scorn them not, nor, careless, start 

Hate that you may ere long rue. 
Let them dream that fortune's kind; 
Never that their faith is blind! 
Let my soul impassioned be, 
Zorolie! 

In the time to come when thou 
Happy in the love of one, 

Seest not a furrowed brow, 

Nor the ills that life would shun 

Know that this poor drooping head 
Had been lifted were it said 

Friendly smile was come from thee 
Zorolie! 

Zorolie, I'll say farewell, 

If farewell is friendship's choice; 
And my pen shall never tell 

Of this huskiness of voice; 
What I feel in that "good-bye, ' 
With its tear and chocking sigh — 
Only once more smile on me, 
Zorolie! 



THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 



I. 

To him the world was full of snares. 
He had supped full the joys of humankind: 
Had tasted all the sweets of lusty youth, 

Had fared as the well-favored fares 

When Prudence lays no staying hand 

Upon the will; when Nature bears 
Her load with patience, waiting the command 
Of Age,- -which surely comes, though stumbling, blind, 
And laggard to the Youth! 

n. 

The world was full of snares because 
Its vanities would hide from such poor eyes 
The folly of its ways : its fraud, deceit ; 

The lie of Fashion; Friendship's laws; 

The flattery that fills the head. 

The wiles that so conceal the flaws 
Of social life, which honor long has fled, 
Betrayed by man's dissembling and his lies. 
And all that faith can cheat ! 

ni. 

Belike man most prefers to dwell 
In sensual revelry, where love and life 
Are steeped in that which fires and moves the soul 

In sweet ecstatic dream. — a spell 

Intoxicating to the sense of all 

That wisdom would provoke to tell 
The truth: where each would lead, and what befall 
The will and raise about it envious strife 
Should Passions gain control. 




THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 187 

IV. 

Be it as vain desire may wish ; 
Satiety will come and fill the man 
With nausea for things he once so prized, 

And move him to another wish : 

That feasts and loves and maidens' sighs, 

And arts that hell-ward souls can push, 
And Vanity deluding thus the wise, 
Were done when opened are his eyes to scan 
The truth as realized. 
v. 

Some fortune had so opened his. 
He saw the falsity of all; the mask 
Of feminine grace, the cheat of form and face, 

The rouge of glowing life as 'tis : 

The lie of tongue; the false caress 

Of lips; the frailty of bliss; 
The beggary of charms Truth must confess 
As sum of Social life when Fashion's task 
So counterfeits the race! 

VI. 

He sighed at first for what was lost, 
And felt some grief in knowing all a lie; 
The things that had amused him all a whim 

That could not please him more: — the cost 

Of understanding what can please! 

Then scorn arose for all he'd lost, 
And all he had enjoyed once, to tease 
His better judgment thus, and thence deny 
A social joy to him. 

VII. 

The glitter and the glare of state, 
The cant of empty heads, the luring eyes, 
The smiles of Coquetry, the wanton flush 

Of Sensuality elate, 

The scowl of Envy, too, who sees 



1SS THE SHADOW-BRIBE. 

In Love and Beauty much to hate. — 
So -Led his heart with Mockery's decrees. 
And changed his happy laughter into cries 
2s o purring Hope could hush! 

Tin. 

"Twas pity first, and then came scorn; 
Contempt soon followed in the train of thought. 
And grand Society beheld the sneer 

Of him once fondled: but alarm 

Stirred not the multitude's prone heart! 

Its ways were set and naught could warn 
It from dissembling acts and baser art: 
Nor mend the breach Hvpoerisv had wrought 
In ties once held as dear! 



Who wished to join might gain an end: 
Might all the pleasures of this world embrace, 
And hold its fairest gift- as folly's pawn. — 

To use. abuse as wishes trend! 

Might thus the goal of Life achieve 

And hush the thoughts that loud contend: 
Yea. might! could Folly's "augment so deceive! 
But Wisdom's eye no lasting peace can trace 

In loves that only fawn. 

x. 

He would not stay to witness shame! 

As moth that nutters 'bout the singeing light 

In hope of what is vain, but fearing gloom 
Without whose evils none can name, 
So stood the man with fait 'ring will 
'Twixt doubt and consciousness of blame: 

The liberated bird is captive still; 

Returns into his cage afraid he might 
So stumble on his doom! 



THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 189 

XI. 

His will then conquered and he left. 
In twain old ties of friendship ail were snapt, 
And in their place were shadows of some hate 

And disappointed love, bereft 

Of all that once had made it bright, 

Or worth a passing thought! Yea, left 
With bitter memories of that sad plight 
In which he saw manhood and virtue wrapt, 
And woman's social state! 

XII. 

New cities gave a welcome then, 
And gay Society threw wide her doors, 
Inviting him so prodigal of wealth, 

Of noble form and face. And when 

He entered, G-race before him stood — 

Decoy to tempt his soul again! 
And all the vile deceits of Fashion's brood, 
In powder, frill and puff, recalled his woes, 
To steal his heart and health. 

XIII. 

He sickened in his soul at this. 
The wanton stare was as the one he fled; 
The idle words like those that set him mad; 

The giddy reel but tortured his, 

Which conscience felt was right; the breath 

Of love was fatal to his bliss, 
Because he knew it led to virtue's death! 
His heart in secret anguish so was bled! 

In sooth, the man was mad! 

XIV. 

Mad with the world's enjoyment! 
Mad with the vanity of things, the froth 
Of feeling and the name of vice; the woe 

That multiplied; accomplishment 

Of evil in its base design; 



190 THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 

Love in its reckless mood unpen t! 
Poor Virtue as a mock might well repine 
O'er hollowness of things: might yet be wroth 
And deem vile man a foe! 

xv. 

He threw off all restraints, and — fell! 
He put away his doubts and gave desire 
The reins of all his passions, so resolved 

To fare as others fared and dwell 

In sweet debauchery of love! 

He surfeited! The sick'ning spell 
Awoke his gloomier thoughts, and high above 
Surroundings there he saw his virtuous ire 
O'er sentiments revolved! 

XVI. 

The harlot with her glassy stare: — 
How can a human instinct so debase 
A virtue born of life as to submit 

Embraces of a succuba? 

Yes, she was dead to him! The red 

That tinged the sparkling wine was there. 
But hell was in the dregs! The song that said 
So many subtle things could not debase 
Him more, and it had quit. 

XVII. 

And poverty he saw. and death: 

That complements of wealth and luxury! 

He scattered gold around, but where it fell 
Contention rose and gasped for breath 
To keep the struggle up: Despair 
And Greed so pitted unto death! 

Wealth is debased for want of other care ; 

The pauper to his lusts is ever free; — 
Both roads lead unto Hell! 



THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 191 

xviii. 

What then was there for him to do? 
Society was mock of his desire, 
And charity was lost on mendicant, 

Ad vile debauchery would do 

For fools who knew no virtuous care! 

For him life held some subtle view 
To please or yet deceive his strange despair! 
He longed for draught to cool the raging fire 
That moved his soul's descant. 

XIX. 

New scenes should banish all his care. 
He had not found society to change 
With peoples whom he met, but nature did. 

She gave variety to bare 

And rugged ways; with time she strove 

To multiply her beauties fair, 
And countless eyes glanced up to blush the love 
That modesty can bloom in her own range 
When by no evil hid. 

xx, 

A wanderer then he straight became. 
A cosmopolitan without a home 
Or place of rest, but ever roving clime 

From clime in search of peace. His fame 

Ahasuerus might aspire; 

And he the Jew's dire fate and name! 
The Frigid's blast, the Tropic's breath of fire, 
The Desert's waste, the Ocean's crested foam, 
All knew him at some time! 

XXI. 

The paths of modern life he knew ; 
The ruins of former greatness searched in vain 
For solace to his troubled thoughts. The stalls 

Mongolic treasures hold, to view 

Were old, as howdah and bazar. 



192 THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 

The Afric sands, the Coptic crew 
In Moslem pilgrimage, the Berber saw. — 
But not oblivion of his thoughts wild strain : 
For memory recalls! 

xxn. 

He wearied, too. of this wild life. 
And then he anchored in a dreary place: 
A rugged mountain plateau far above 

The rolling sea ; the angry strife 

Of foolish man who wars with man 

To keep his social evils rife! 
Here, where no human feet have trod, he can 
Forget the world and hate, and turn his face 
To that more worthy love. 

XXIII. 

A plateau, but a narrow one: 
An eyrie in the mountains eagles might 
Select for their fit home to raise their young, 

And train their eyes to catch the sun. 

As rising in his splendor high 

The world beneath is lighted on, 
With falcon glance the quick and ready eye 
Is guided o"er expanses by the light 
The golden rays have flung. 

X5IV. 

Is this then what he sought? The lull 
That brings surcease to worldly cares? Beneath 
He saw the sea with sheeny face upheld 
To mirror glorious skies; the gull 
That fluttered 'mong the clouds to hide 
From nature's art: a shipwrecked hull 
That told of anger spent, — the vaunting pride 
Of man who dared — the rigginor all the wreath 
Of love Faith then beheld 1 



THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 193 

XXV. 

In solitude a plain was seen 
Far stretching to the east, until it came 
To mountains capp'd with snow where sunlight played 

In iridescent beams; between 

The shadows lurked, and fancy shapes 

Were marked at eventide, I ween. 
And so the lowly wanderer escapes 
To find a hermitage beyond the sham 
And hell life's lie has made! 

XXVI. 

He sank him down and gazed on all. 
His heart was full of what he saw and knew. 
He builded hopes as ne'er he built before. 

His wasted life he would recall, 

Its memory blot out, and purge 

His heart of all its bitter gall! 
And in contrition now some faith would urge 
Conciliation to the world he flew 
Filled with its rankling woe! 

XXVII. 

His mind was full of thoughts. He said: 
"All life is vain, and social peace a lie! 
I've supped it full! I've tasted of its dregs! 

And by its passions I've been led 

Unbridled as to will! Have known 

The wild conceits of love: — 'tis dead! 
All dead and rot! — and Folly claims its own! 
This love! vain love! — O, foolish, foolish sigh! 
Thou direst of all plagues! 

XXVIII. 

"In youth I dreamed an ideal life, 
And so beheld the fairness of the earth 
Crowned as befit its dues: its mitre, gold — 

But not the drudge of human strife! 



194 THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 

The recompense of virtue then: 

And love was pure 'twixt man and wife! 

I knew no vain philosophy, or when 

The idea sprung, Platonic in its birth : 
I felt it in my soul! 

xxix. 

"In manhood, faith, I saw the lie! 
Lie to my dreams! Lie to Platonic thought! 
Base lie to truth, itself! Love is conceit! 

Love has a wanton's sigh! an eye 

Of hoiden Lust can not outstare! 

Oh, I am sick of love! the shy 
Pretence that renders mortals fools! O, fair 
And morbid world, what have you wrought? I sought 
A love, — I found a cheat! 

XXX. 

"Perhaps I built my hopes too high! 
Perhaps I dreamed the human heart was strong, 
The will all firm and true and right inclined, 

And passions able to deny; 

Perhaps I thought that Virtue held 

Some commerce, too, with Love! And why? 
Enough! I found it wrong. My soul rebelled 
O'er what I saw among the world's base throng, 
Hell measured and designed! 

XXXI. 

"Great God, my heart was sad and low! 
Why I could not enjoy as others did, 
Thou know'st, not I! The truth I only say. 

I saw enough of bawd and show; 

I saw enough of art's display: 

Decollete dresses, bosom's snow, 
Encompass hearts that throb to passion's sway! 
The Persian's scanty leg-dress can not bid 
Desire more strong than they! 



THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 195 

XXXII. 

"I've stood within proud Fashion's hall; 
I've seen the rich, the low, the high in state, 
The Hindoo and the Jew, Circassian, Greek — 

And sunk in passions are they all! 

Monastic harems in the East, 

And priestly Nunneries recall 
The fact, that man is everywhere a beast! 
And everywhere is woman found his mate — 
The anchorite a freak! 

XXXIII. 

"Discolored are life's virtues here, 
And Lie triumphs while Truth is left to die; 
And Show is lord of Modesty and Grace; 

And Vanity is left to cheer 

The soul that pines o'er what is lost 

By Virtue's wand'rings, lone and drear! 
And Greed and Lust and Pride disdain the cost 
Of life's travail, and mock sweet Pity's sigh, 
And Honor would deface! 
xxxiv. 

"I've turned my back upon it all! 
I've scorned the friendship of the guilty throng; 
I've sought a fellowship with things more chaste. 

In solitude I would recall 

The dreams of happy youth; the face 

Of Purity that paid for all 
The labor spent! In fancy I would trace 
The image yet, and hear her phantom song 
Again in this wild place! 

XXXV. 

"That song no one has ever sung! — 
She used to sing to me, — this love of mine! 
She used to soothe me in my heart's alarm! 

And when my spirit sore was wrung, 



196 THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 

Like iridescent hope she came 
And lulled to slumber all unstrung! 
Here on this rugged mountain I will tame 
The Essence once again! Will here confine 
The realm of all her charm!'" 
xxxvi. 
And so he lived alone. A hut 
He built upon that plateau, sticks and reeds 
And stone and clay : the stuff of building craft, — 
Like to the birds around. He cut 
A path along the cliff that he might pass 
Around it clear. No view was shut 
From hungry eye: the sea. the mighty mass 
Of mountains capp'd with snow, the canon meads, 
The leaping rills that laught 

XXXVII. 

To join the cataracts below — 
The depths so lost in gloom — all were in view. 
And nature in her grandeur lay serene: 

A paradise to heart so sore! 

And birds were his companions there, 

And gentle breezes whispered low, 
And bright-eyed flowers blushed their modest cheer, 
And gave the winds the rich perfumes they blew 
About the mountain green. 

XXXVIIL 

Here did he live, unhappy churl 
Whom man had called a misanthrope, a dunce 
Who could not see the merit of this life, 

Xor learn the good things of the world, 

Though grasp might seize and taste and know! 

The ; 'swine' 1 had passed beyond the -pearl"; 
Had wallowed in the mire: so let him go! 
All things had lain within his power once. 

And he had chosen strife! 



THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 197 

XXXIX. 

His victory he felt. He gave. 
His soul mad license once to now despair. 
Renunciation was his only choice; 

And pristine purity to save 

Had called for isolation there. 

Away from all the wiles that gave 
A simple heart to darkness and to fear 
Of Hell: from syren of the Devil's lair — 
Society's false voice! 

XL. 

The world he banished from his mind. 
The idle hours gave him subtle charm; 
He watched the birds and listened to their song, 

And learned the many feathered kind, 

And formed a fellowship with all, 

And felt ashamed that he had pined. 
And cheering, too, were flowers and the fall 
Of purring rills, cicada's sharp alarm 
And stridulating song. 

XLI. 

The days so passed in dreamy train. 
For food the mountain berry was his dish, 
And speckled eggs the chirping birds would lay. 

From such a theft he would refrain, 

But they seemed all inviting, and 

Their merry notes did not complain ; 
So deeming it no wrong he gave command 
To hunger to appease its craving wish : 
The which it did obey. 

XLII, 

Then childhood visions came again. 
The soothing comfort of the peace of earth 
Evolved a train of thoughts so happy drawn 

The image was impressed as when 



198 THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 

The heart was young, and Faith could say — 
Awakened so — "It might have been!" 
For Hope still pictured in the world a fay 
In human guise that held some higher worth 
Than Fashion's savage spawn! 

XLIII. 

He watched the lights and shadows play, 
And saw within the passing clouds the face 
Of airy nothings, yet of forms divine 

That arched the azure vault of day — 

Hegira of the souls of dream 

In transport to fair realms away! 
Yet some were wont to loiter, it would seem, 
And chose the mountain crags for such a place, 
Above the glint snow line. 

XLIV. 

And like a crown of glory hung 
A halo o'er the mountain's crest of snow; 
A fire flashed from the crystal ice is rays 

Scintillant, grand; and rainbows sprung 

In misty frost, as garlands then, 

Or jewels of the heavens strung! 
The sun declining filled the mountain glen 
With mystic shapes and shadows far below 
Where Twilight early plays. 

XLV. 

To him things here were real and true! 
The shapes were things of life, and of the throng 
His heart chose one: and golden was her hair 

By day. her eyes an azure blue ; 

But when the shades of night came on, 

They touched and lent a sombre hue 
To all the graces of his dream forlorn! 
Yet naught affected him; his love was strong: 
He knew her only fair! 



THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 199 

XLVI. 

In any likeness she was fair — 
This ideal dream! And whether in the cloud 
Above his head her fancied face appeared, 

Or whether shade of mountain bare 

Outlined her swaying form to him, 

All things were ready to declare 
Her real and true, and no deceitful whim 
To cheat his soul, or doom it to the shroud 
Of death if thoughts had erred! 

XL VII. 

In peace his soul had found sweet rest. 
He passed the days in watching shadows play, 
In tracing in the throng his heart's true love, — 

The love that all his soul confessed! 

Now here the shadow hung, now there, 

Now far beyond the mountain crest, 
With swaying arms inviting him to share 
Its merry flight; now in its shade he lay, — 
Embraced so by his Love! 

xlviii. 

Elysium of earthly joy! 
He passed the night as day, some twinkling star 
Astraea of bright love and prophecy, 

Unrav'ling skeins the Fates employ 

To tangle thoughts of man: her kiss 

He felt within the dew-drop coy! 
He threw his arms, within his slumbering bliss, 
About the light, and dreamed that he held there 
The substance of his sigh! 

XLIX. 

And then more fairy forms would come 
To multiply the joy his heart could feel 
Asleep or yet awake — for dream was both! 

His reveries were still their home! 



THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 

And in the train of dreamland nymphs, 

His spirit moved like soul of some 
Poor ancient bard whose eys had caught a glimpse 
Of Naiads at play, or heard the Oread's peal 
Of laughter. Satyr's oath! 

L. 

He wooed his love in every shade: 
He saw her smile in every flitting light ; 
Her graceful form in every swaying thing: 

A wild, imaginary maid! 

'Mong Dryads she was queen and wore 

The diadem of nymphs, and played 
As queen to Potamids as well, and bore 
The dignity of every mountain sprite. 
Or wood, or gushing spring! 

LI. 

And she was queen to him! His eye 
Pursued her in the sunny sky, and saw 
Her fluttering far beneath in shade and gloom, 

Then, hung in graceful shadows nigh! 

The murmur of the winds her speech 

To him, their whispered breath her sigh! 
And song of bird, or fountain splash, was each 
The voice of all her love! — and stranger awe 
Comes not o"er souls at doom! 

LII. 

He knew he loved her and he thought 
She spoke her love to him and bade him hope 
For fit requital of the heart he gave 

Without demand for what it sought! 

He loved her and her wish was his, 

And in his rapture he had caught 
The vagueness of her substance, felt the bliss 
Of vacancy: saw not the downward slope 
Of madness and the gravel 



(U 

o 

? 

CD 
2. 
Q- 




THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 201 

LIII. 

How unlike all he'd known on earth! 
Arts were disdained, and sweet simplicity- 
Was soul of this, his love! And Fashion's yoke? 

A thing of such capricious worth 

It was not felt! And Slander's tongue? 

As dumb as that that ne'er had birth! 
This love of his is what the heart has sung 
In solace to itself since Fancy free, 

Found voice to speak — and spoke! 

LIV. 

He wooed and won her in his dream! 
He sat upon the cliffs as by her side! 
He opened to her gaze his secret soul — 

She as confessor, it would seem, 

Of what he hid from all the world: 

The brightness of the inward beam 
So radiant of Hope! He was a churl 
Because mankind had turned awry the tide 
Beyond his own control! 

LV. 

Her voice of sympathy was low: 
Too low, indeed, for judgment's ear to hear, 
Yet loud enough for him whose heart returns 

Reply to thoughts and tears of woe! 

Then melancholy fled as one 

Pursued, and in its place, a glow 
Of sweet delirium of hope. — The sun 
So showered his bright rays upon him there 
Through mountain clefts and ferns! 

LVI. 

What mattered if he knew it not? 
His head was filled with dream! The Truth might come 
And rap at Wisdom's door; it could not wake 

A soul so lost within the plot 



202 THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 

Of Fancy which has swept from view 
The thorns of life that better lot 

Might buoy the heart and build its faith anew. 

Tis thus alone that Pleasure can find some 
Surcease of life's heartache. 

LYII. 

The Shadow-nymph and he would wed! 
He saw her so preparing in the glade! 
And maidens hung bright jewels in her hair; 

And wreathed and decked the nuptial bed! 

And priest from some celestial height 

Was come to join — by fairies led 
In train! And then a thousand rays of light 
O'erhung the lofty canopy of shade 
And smiled and sparled there! 

LYIII. 

And 'mid the splendor of the scene. 
And all the happy throng so gathered round, 
He saw himself bedecked as bridegroom there, 

Beside the Shadow-nymph of dream! 

The visioned purity of thought 

So animated, it would seem. 
And deep within enraptured ears he caught 
The chant of wedding marches, and the sound 
Of speech to join him there! 

LIX. 

And she — the lovely Nymph — his bride! 
He danced in ecstasy: he laughed with joy; 
He sang the sweet delusion to his heart : 

In fullness of it all. he cried! 

He feasted with the guests: he bade 

Good welcome to his love and pride: 
And in his transport felt that he was mad! 
Yet what could now despair, or him annoy? 
He was beyond all art. 



THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 203 

LX. 

Into his garland'd couch he went. 
He sank him down upon the bed of leaves : 
He would collect his thoughts, but yet the tide 

Seemed in confusion lost or bent. 

The lights were still above, without, 

And to his tingling ears were sent 
Again the merry, festal, wedding shout — 
Which blinded love and folly still deceives! 
He waited there his bride! — 

LXI. 

A storm had overcast the night 
And hid from mundane eyes the twinkling stars ; 
And flashes of its hate had been the glare 

Of bridal chambers bathed in light! 

Its voice of thunder, too, so spoke 

The festal shout — as well it might! 
The victim lay, nor torrents e'er awoke 
One in his plight, where Reason leaps his bars 
To fall into despair! 

-* * -x- -* -;<- * -3:- -x- 
LXII. 

How long the night he waited her 
He knew not, nor why she should flee embrace 
Of him whose bruised heart was all her own, 

And clung to her as if she were 

The guardian of its peace and love! 

The pilot who should thenceforth stir 
The troubled thing into a haven, cove 
Of hope and rest: a sweet and joyous place 
His soul had never known. 

LXIII. 

But when he opened eyes again, 
They fell upon strange sights, for narrow walls 
Confined him who had slept beneath the vault 

Of heaven unconfined! And then 



204 THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 

He saw the hand of man in this ; 

And tried to think where he had been, 
And what it was that spoke to him of bliss; 
Of love and freedom; mountains, waterfalls: 
And then there came a halt! 

LX1V. 

Where was she, and what had become 
Of all her train? The plateau and the glade, 
The cliffs and mighty chasms far below? 

His bed? his rude constructed home? 

He grew more anxious with each thought 

That came, and feared she ne'er would come 
Again to sooth him and his mind distraught 
Free of the frenzy longing absence made. 
How could she treat him so! 

LXV. 

Or was it all a dream? His bride 
A fashioned figment of his teeming brain? 
Their nuptials but the lunacy of thought 

That to his trusting heart had lied? 
"Awake again, O shadow false! 

Awake and flood my Fancy's tide! 
For though untrue the dream-nymphs and their waltz, 
They lead me in their wild aerial train 
To find the thing I've sought!" 

LXVI. 

No echo e'en returned his cry, 
And barer loomed the walls that fenced him round, 
And lower yet the ceiling of the room 

Seem dropped to smother breath of sigh! 

Unbounded once his thoughts could soar 

Aloft; he, now confined, must die! 
He wept for freedom; longed to hear the roar 
Of wildest elements, for in their sound 
Was voice of her — and doom! 



THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 205 

LXVIl. 

His thoughts were broken in upon. 
He heard a gentle tread, a hinge to squeak; 
He saw a light steal through an open door — 

A ray directly from the sun — 

And with it came a maiden fair, 

Though yet a simple rustic one 
Whose glance was soft and shy, while wilder hair 
Blew carelessly about a blushing cheek 
Where health seemed evermore. 

LXVIII. 

She moved as fairy-like as her 
He sought, as round about the room she tripped, 
Adjusting this and that, arranging all 

With due regard for his good cheer. 

He followed her with questioning eyes ; 

He tried to understand her care, 
And how he came within her home; why ties 
He once had broken, blighted hope had nipped, 
She now could so recall. 

XLIX. 

His interest so increased. He gazed 
Into her honest, comely face, and thought 
Of others he had fled; but saw no trace 

'Tween blushing health and rouge! Amazed 

He was at her more simple grace, 

Which strangely proved the world was crazed 
By artifice and sham: it else could trace 
The symmetry of youth in things unwrought ; 
Not borrowed form and face! 

LXX. 

The maiden was a country lass. 
A shepherdess whose parents sure were poor; 
Who lived a frugal life within the wild 

And truly rugged mountain pass 



206 THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 

Where strangers seldom came to mar 

The quietude of Nature's mass! 
Within that shepherd's home was tender care. 
And much to nurse a spirit sweet and low: 
She o-rew a docile child. 

LXXI. 

She spoke to him in accents sweet. 
She told him that he must not speak or try 
Recall the past, or understand what all 

Had happened in his strange retreat. 

He now was in her home. Her care 

Was all his own, and she would treat 
Him to his health again: help him repair 
The waste mephitic air, inclement sky. 
Had ravaged in his tall. 

LXXII. 

He listened and believed! He felt 
A strange, sweet rest so answering every word: 
And peace came in his heart when she was near ; 

And fountains of his eyes would melt 

In happy tears, that even late, 

Friendship had come, and faith had felt 
The subtile charm of its respect and state — 
Which all the rapture of the soul had stirred 
At first at thought of cheer. 

LXXIII. 

He strengthened in his faith of her. 
He followed with his eyes her every move. 
Obeyed her every look or low command, 

And found no will or doubting fear 

Opposing aught she did or said. 

He drifted in his thoughts of her. 
As day by day she waited by his bed 
Attending to his wants, her skill to prove 
By health "s returning; hand. 



THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 207 

LXXIV. 

He drifted in a sea of love! 
And then he saw his Shadow-bride in her! 
Heard in her voice the song of merry birds ; 

The cooing of that mountain dove 

That sat with him upon the crest 

To sigh and whisper dreams of love! 
Her eyes were as the stars that so confessed 
The unity of soul 'tween him and her: 
There was music in her words! 

LXXV. 

And day by day the fancy grew; 
And love was stronger than returning health; 
And hope found object in the rustic maid 

It once despaired of ere it knew! 

What cared he for her humble life? 

The things the world would fain eschew? 
She was to him more worthy yet to wife 
Than all the giddy jades of Rank and Wealth 
That Fashion ever made! 

LXXVI. 

Her gentle touch was sweetest balm; 
Her wise assurance more than wisdom's oath; 
Her voice the chime of all the harmonies 

That sooth the troubled heart to calm! 

The smile that lighted up her face 

Shone sunlight in the heart's alarm! 
In every movement Love was sure to trace 
Some grace, some tenderness of heart: and loath 
Were lips to hush their sighs. 

LXXVII. 

He would reward her for her care. 
Wealth should transform this humble mountain cot 
Into a palace grand! Her simple ways 

Should grace the regal state; should share 



108 THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 

In fashioning the world! — its mould 

To cast in truer die and fair! 
The shepherd and his wife should have a fold 
That dream had never hoped for as their lot! — 
Xor benefit repays! 

LXXYHI. 

He mused and dreamed the days away. 
The maid the center of his thoughts. his e will 
To claim her when again his health should come 

And he could feel life's vigor play 

In mind and muscle : and his heart 

Grew cheerful with the thought : the day 
Not distant, for her happy healing art 
Brought faith: since that, though convalescent still. 
Health smiled a kind welcome! 

LXXIX. 

Alas, how oft the heart's deceived! 
Her lover came! — a simple, rustic swain — 
To claim her ere the invalid found speech! 

He had not asked her. yet believed 

Her heart was his; for sure her eyes 

Had spoken sympathy; retrieved 
The scattered fragments of his heart: the cries 
Of all his soul! had eased his aching brain; 
Bred love beyond his reach! 

LXXX. 

••Strength now. O G-od. to all endure!" 
The first sight bade him silence, for he saw 
The youth embrace the maid as he of right: 
And she return his pressure, pure 
In act and modest glance, her blush 
Bespeaking that her heart was true! 
Their manner and the deed did then so crush 
His fainting heart poor love succumbed to law 
Of fate: hope died at sight! 



THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 209 

LXXXI. 

They were oblivious to the world! 
They did not see him in their love's embrace: 
They thought not of the heart that such might break! 

They knew not that their act would hurl 

A trusting soul into the pit 

Of dark despair — a hopeless churl! 
They only knew their souls were strongly knit 
In union sweet! They did not care to face 
Aught that could doubt awake! 

LXXXII. 

He closed his eyes on all that passed. 
His heart with woes unspeakable was full! 
'O God!" he cried in surfeit of his grief, 
"Be yet a little kind! This last 
Is more than I can bear! I would 
The future live in peace; the past 
Forget! Canst Thou not aid the will that should 
O'ercome the snares of life that downward pull 
Faith's soaring hope so brief? 

LXXXIII. 

"Be merciful to me and mine! 
My faith is sorely tried by all the world! 
My love has sought an object never found! 

My heart has never ceased to pine: 

So much tormented mind and will! 

So much deceived, — this soul of mine! 
Love sickened; died! Love newly born would fill 
Hope's dream! Awak'ning comes again to hurl 
Its faith in sadness down! 

LXXXIV. 

"I love this simple country maid; 
I dreamed that she loved me, and in the thought 
My heart was buoyant, and the past forgot, 

And all its ills and doubts repaid 



210 THE SHADOW-BRIDE. 

By confidence new-born ; and faith 
That all the world was not so made 
As pictured at the first : which Folly saith 
Is due of all her worth ; so vilely wrought 
To pay the fool his lot ! 

LXXXV. 

••The false, the fanciful, the true. 
Now rise before me in my wisdom's hour! 
I see again the world with its false charm: 

Its flattery I would eschew! 

I see my fancied Shadow-bride ; 

The mountain's lofty dome of blue! 
I see the fact, and death of all my pride! 
I feel in ail love's impotency of power: — 
I know the heart's alarm! 

LXXXVI. 

■•All pain is mine! — mine to endure! 
Mine yet to suffer, whilst the rest enjoy 
Peace and the ease of settled consciousness! 

Mine! Mine! Xo pleasure can allure 

Whilst Truth discloses still the luring smile 

Of Sin and Death! I will endure 
In silence, and this anguish so beguile 
That black Forgetfulness shall find employ 
In blanker nothingness! 

LX XXVII. 

"O G-od. what bitterness in life! 
Yet here is love in sweet and natural guise! 
Two youths that know not of the world's vain ways; 

Xor hate, nor poor Ambition's strife! 

I love her, but her heart is his : 

And he shall know a loving wife! 
The grief is mine: nor shall it mar their bliss. 
The Night is thence: Oblivion the prize! 
So mav I end my days!" 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 

[Emended From Edition of 1898.] 



[. 

A change is come, selah! The scold 
Of bitter days we bid farewell ; 

The biting winds are not so bold; 

The frost has left the ground, and cold 
Is nothing that earth's warmth can swell. 

She basks within the sun's bright rays 
And nurtures all within her bourne; 
She fondles, in capricious ways, 
The offspring of her waxing days, 
And quirks and jollies each in turn. 

Old Winter's mantle that still clings, 

She shakes from shoulders glowing fair; 
With prodigality she flings 
The seed of everything that springs, 
And tends each with a mother's care. 

She ushers into life each bud 

That promises a blooming prime; 

She gives them drink within the flood — 

Her rushing torrent is the blood 
That courses in the veins of Time. 

II. 

The daring crocus through the snow 
Doth raise his head; the buttercup, 

And violet of modest glow, 

And dandelion, too, would show 
Their hardihood in struggling up 

To brave inclemencies and prove 
The glory of their being here, — 



212 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

Which renders brilliant field and grove, 

And makes the world a thing to love 
With all its beauties blushing near. 

And grass and herb and shrubby tree. 

In many colored liveries. 
Bud out to blend the sky and lea 
In rainbow tints: and busy bee 

Hums merrily upon the breeze. 

The early rose with bursting bloom. 

And May-bells that the fairies ring, 
Now serve to dissipate the gloom 
The winter knew, and start the loom 

Of Life a-weaving in the spring. 
in. 
Hail to the Spring! Fair infant year 

That wails and sobs as any child! 
That shrieks with laughter till a tear 
Steals from the frown that darkens cheer — 

Now tempest-tost, now blandly mild! 

Thou art the season of sweet youth: 
The Kagnarok of Essence sped: 

And Life that felt the winter's ruth. 

New blooms again to bless the truth 
That Nature slept and was not dead. 

Thy pallor blushes rosy hue. 

Thy silence breaks into a song. 
And hoary frost and clammy dew 
Warm into babbling brooks anew 

To dance and birl and vault along. 

And clothed in verdue is the scene 

That late was grim and stark in death: 
While lowering clouds, which hung between 
The azure sky and earth, are seen 

In fragments tost by Summer's breath. 



IiV PASSING THROUGH. 213 

We drink thy charms within the wind 

That blows the buds of vernal bloom ; 
We greet thy beauties uneonfined, 
Thy fragrance steals within the mind 

That winter numbed with its cold gloom, 

IV. 

O fickle Day of smiles and tears, 

We laugh and weep thy humors too! 
In youth we chatter with our fears, 
To trust each phantom that appears; 

In age we find the hour's rue! 

How like thy tempests to this Soul 

That sinks or swells with every throb! 
How like thy elements' control 
That through vicissitudes would roll 

To burst into a smile, a sob! 

How like all earthly things we see 

That feel the pulse of Time and Tide! 
How like the soul unto the sea, 
The trembling main to man when he 

Doth feel the shock of rage and pride! 

And yet these Sentiences, unlike 

The duller molecules of clay, 
Pass off the stage of life, and dike 
Is earth for that which seemeth like, 

And Youth is born but to decay! 

Could life forever be as thou, 

So full of pleasure and of cheer, 
Man would no thought of grief allow, 
For every fancy would prove how 

Love's pleasures brood from year to year, 
v. 
For Childhood, in thy morn's delight, 

Thy thoughts would revel in sweet dreams ; 



214 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

Fair visions float before thy sight, 
Thy powers feel a doughty might 

To stem the rush of Stygian streams! 

All space is peopled by thy guile, 

And fancy lives and joy bestows; 
And Love is cooing all the while, 
And everywhere a happy smile 
Tells of the heart that overflows. 

Through haze the world in grandeur floats 

With beauties full in its display, 
And, like the miser's souls that gloats 
O'er riches, thou to richer notes 
G-ive way to bless each happy day! 

Thou livest in the checkered shade, 

With bird and bee and wilder flower ; 
Where some fair Amaryllis played, 
Or Daphnis with his shyer maid, 

Sweet Chloris, of the woodland bower. 

In amptitude of youth thy hope 
Is king of life and its reward ; 
Thy nascent wisdom sees the scope 
Of wish alone; thy joy doth ope 

The heart to every sounding chord. 

VI. 

O Day of Youth and Love! O Spring! 

O Tide of human guile! O Thought 
That comes with all and gives us wing 
To soar aloft; a voice to sing 

The anthems of the heart! For aught 

We know thou art some Sentiency 
Eternal as the earth and sky! 

A spirit that doth come to free 

The duller Soul and Latency 
Bound here by some nefaric tie! 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 215 

But whether Spirit, Time or Tidf, 

That animates or ebbs or flows, 
Thou art, O Spring, a season's pride! 
A flux of joys with boundaries wide! 

A day when simple Nature glows! 

Thou art the season of sweet love: 

For truly it is said of thee, 
Thy day doth mark the mating dove, 
Thy flood the swelling of each love 

Here glowing for its company! 

For thou art Eros of the lore 

Delightful to the G-recian ear! 
The Cupid that has gone before 
To leave Love's courtship in the glow 

Of romance, lingering year to year! 

The Force that binds its power's might 

In taming hearts too fierce or wild ; 
That brings within the soul the light 
Which casts its radiance to the night 

That fills the heart of winter's child! 

Fair season of the passion's glow, 

Rejuvenation speaks welcome! 
And all the roses thou canst blow, 
Fling out and let old Winter know 

That Age is dead and Youth is come! 

VII. 

In love's pursuit we find the chase 

Alluring to the sense and mind; 
We so forget ourselves and place 
The guerdon far above the race 

That leaves us feeble in its wind. 

Phlegmatic is old Death! Its chill 

That absence of deific fire! 
The pulse of Life is passion's thrill ; 



216 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

The ichor of its god is still 

The blood and flood of Youth's desire! 

In courtship days how fair the sky. 

How bright the world, how sweet the lays 
Of cooing birds that carol high 
In leafy bowers, and reply 

In chirps of happy answering praise! 

How sweet the flowers, and the breeze 
Is warm with sensual breath of love! 

And happy laughter tells of ease. 

And sun-rays flit among the trees 
Like elfins in a fairy cove! 

And so idylic is the dream 

Of Youth with sunny thoughts of peace: 
And burning love is what 'twould seem, 
And heart and soul with visions teem — 

Drunk with their own wild love's increase. 

Sing out, bright Love, and let the heart 

Rejoice in its youth and spring! 
The soul is happy though thy part 
Is mingled with some passing smart 
That leaves a tittle of its sting: 

The sweet remains to cheer the day 
When love is fled and is no more; 
For dream will ever covet lay 
Which once awoke a joyous day 
That held a love within its glow. 

VIII. 

Thy humor. Spring, is lot of all! 

Thy love-tide moves each sensuous will! 
"Tis not with man alone thy call; 
But rapture would each heart enthrall. 

And teach each voice an amorous trill! 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 217 

And here within the slumbrous shades, 

As on the new spring swath I lie, 
I hear the chirpings in the glades, 
Frogs croaking their bass serenades 

To silent loves that hover nigh! 

And elytrons the crickets thrum — 

Harps of the voiceless things of life! — 
And in the brooks the fishes drum, 
And all the world seems roused to some 

Sweet subtilty of Love's wild strife! 

And birds within the tree-tops high, 

Are trilling sweetest melody; 
And, with their loves, so coy and shy, 
I drink the flood of song and sigh 

For notes of such wild harmony ! 

If man could sing like these his sphere 

Were one of bliss however low; 
For each sweet note would rouse and stir 
The soul to rapture; and the cheer 

Were all his being here would know. 

He would not feel his narrow bounds, 

Nor note the hobble of his gait! 
But, borne aloft on quivering sounds, 
His soul were free of lowly bounds 

And saltant in the blissful state! 

IX. 

Sing, birds! Within ethereal realms 

Our mundane troubles know ye not! 
Ye can not be disturbed with dreams 
Which horror man, for joy seems 

The measure of your happy lot. 

Above the earth and all its rue, 

That hangs an incubus to me, 

Ye float and sing as if ye knew 



IN PA SSING THE UGH. 

N rarth.lv pain: your azure blue 
Were all divine and full of srlee! 

fis xiastfi o d with god-like mind 

That fate has fettered to the earth! 
Ye choristers of the sky. on wind 
Car. Irift I t - mi ofined 

Ye scorn the things of lowly birth! 

At morn some praisr :: Z aity 

Awakens matins of your song; 
Yr soai . - Lth gladsome cry — 

I, here below, heave answering sigh. 

And watch the earth's poor, madd'ning throng! 

A1 night your voice is lullaby 

To rankling: tumult of the dav. 

_ 

And sweet nocturnes of melody 
Teach wak-Jv.- - : uls such harmony 

As sweeps all troubled thoughts away: 

ray from strife and boil which left 

Their stingy to fester unto death: 

_ 

Which filled the souls t men bereft 

Of hope and faith : which only left 

A way for y m sweet .lianting breath! 

x. 
The unsubst; i H is the lure 

souls s spiring things most high: 
We live in dreams and deem as sure 
The vagueness of our thoughts ; and pure 
Each heart and soul by its own sigh 

And so we pass >ui idle times 

And live in realms to us unknow- . 
Seep] . sure worlds and tropic climes 
Hear choral notes of heaven's chimes ; 

Build airy castles all our own! 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 219 

Could we forever live as when 

The Golden Age blessed all mankind, 
Our earthly home and Eden then 
Were sure, and we in viny glen 

Might romp in freedom unconfined. 

But burdens each must bear, forsooth, 

Though lame and hobble be his gait ; 
And howsoever blank his youth, 
Or irksome be the weight of ruth, 

He must still onward to his fate. 

He must still onward though his dreams 

Fade into vacancy and night ; 
No time to loll in Fancy's beams, 
Nor eddy on the sluggish streams 

Where Romance loiters in delight. 

XI. 

Ambitions tempt us all. We think 

Great ends are for us to achieve, 
And vast our power to do. We shrink 
Not from the labor, but we sink 

Beneath its load. We so deceive 

Ourselves and let a vain conceit 

Unsettle reason and betray 
What of contentment here we meet 
Within this life so brief and fleet 

In the swift passage of its day. 

Incongruous are desires. We feel 

What it were best we should not do: 
We do not all things wise. We steel 
Our hearts against the soft appeal 

Of gentleness and love; we rue 

It to the end, and curse the day 

We harkened to the siren voice 
Of base Ambition, to betray 



220 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

Our happiness and lead us 'way 
From what was far a better choice. 

Still move we to its nod and strive 

For all its vanities as though 
They virtue had to keep alive 
The soul itself, and seize and hive 
The shadows we pursue to know! 

The child aspires to be a man, 

And man aspires to be a god; 
They both conspiring 'gainst the plan 
Of nature which doth rightly span 
Desires of every earthly clod. 

XII. 

We must ascend unto the sky; 

Give wings to higher thoughts and creeds. 
Teach hearts and wills how to deny 
The wantonness of earth and fly 

Beyond confines of sluggish deeds. 

How much of pain, how much of toil, 
Is wrought by some ambitious aim, 
The zest and humor to recoil 
Upon the head which thought to foil 
Conditions that the fates proclaim? 

The Catos and the Caesars fell, 

And Bourbon rule and Spanish sway! 
Each page of history can tell 
Of man or nation that would swell 
Important if but for a day! 

And yet each day will mark a grave 

Of Hope whose pinions were too weak 
To buoy Ambition on the wave 
Of clamor when its god but gave 
It strength enough to rise and seek! 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 221 

XIII. 

Napoleon came upon the stage — 

Napoleon of a day's renown! 
To him man was an open page; 
He marked his passions to engage 

Their force to boost him to a crown! 

He made men puppets to his name; 

He moved each one as though a pawn; 
The goal of all his life was fame; 
A chess-board strife ambition's game; 

And nations fell — their kings to fawn! 

He knew man's weakness and he wrought 

His greatness at the fool's expense; 
Confiding in his heart the thought 
"Through fear or interest all are caught" — * 

His fellows slaves in consequence! 

The recompense for strife and blood; 

For hardships borne and labor lost; 
For wreck and ruin ; ensanguined flood 
That swept proud Honor's flag in mud, — 

Repaying so ambition's cost! 

Reward? O man, an history's page! 

A mention and a moral, then 
Our own affairs our thoughts engage, 
And with light trifles battles wage — 

The hero's fame forgot again! 

XIV. 

So was it ever thus. But still 

We Struggle in ambition's strife 
For end beVOXld our feeble skill, 
While blank futility doth till 

The briefness of our Little Life! 

'F««r and interest are the only niotiven of man,' nn.nl NapoUoO." Kourrnnn.v 



222 W PASSING THROUGH. 

We struggle and we fret, to fall 

The victims of our own conceit! 
We labor but to taste the gall 
That comes with vanity's recall 

When we have faced each lie and cheat. 
xv. 
The great must ever live afar: 

The eye is keen to see the fault 
Of him who rises through the law 
That measures genius to debar 

The mediocre with his halt. 

When man is with us breast to breast, 

His labor seen beside our own, 
His power is ne'er full confest, 
Since, arm to arm, we give the test, 
To let our jealousies dethrone. 

So distance and the lapse of time 
Must ever add to glory's star; 

Each age and nation, every clime, 

Will hold a memory sublime 
That had its being low and far. 

XVI. 

And so we know the guerdon well, 
And may oblivion find ere long! 
Move on, and let some other tell 
What troubles here his hopes befell, 
And drone his melancholy song! 

That song which told of action spent, 

And toil that added trouble to 
The moments claimed by rest, and bent 
The head in sorrow while content 
Was lost in vanity's ado! 

XVII. 

Who thinks that future time will crown 
Ambitions of his daily toil, 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 223 

Lives in conceit! A name's renown 
Is ever but an empty sound 

That illy pays for life's turmoil. 

The morrow comes each life to bless! 

To-day we eke the hour in pain! 
Our dreams of bliss and happiness 
Awaken ever to distress, 

And all our hopes are futile, vain! 

XVIII. 

The sighing, crying, laughing Spring 

That shakes and blows the budding flowers, 

Brings Summer on its restless wing, 

And then Apollo down doth fling 

His scorching rays to drink the showers; 

And earth sleeps 'neath a blazing sky, 

And sultry steals old Auster's breath: 
Within the dusky shades I lie 
And watch with drowsy, listless, eye 

The shimmer on the sun-bathed heath. 

I see beyond the rising knoll 

That bears its crown to summer sheen, 
And lazy revery fills my soul 
With dreams beyond my thoughts' control, 

And bare the spirit world, I ween. 

Behold I nymphs and sylphs at play 

As though in Arcady I muse 
And here the haunt of elf and fay, 
And this Love's own perennial day 

Wherein the gods no joys refuse. 

My soul's transported with the spell 
That comes with knowledge of this bliss; 

I here forget fche earth to dwell 

In bright empyreal realms that swell 
Emo1 ion's metamorphosis, 



224 IX PASSING THROUGH. 

And, like a child in wild pursuit 

Of butterfly that flits its grasp, 
I chase each thought that might confute 
My dream — to hear the fancied flute 
Of Pan, though he elude my clasp! 

XIX. 

O dryads! O fair nymphs of trees! 

I love you and your wilds would share! 
Your cheerful laughter wakes the bees 
And stirs again the slumbering breeze 

That halted in the summer's glare. 

xx. 

The summer's glare that parches earth 
And seres fair Thallo in her bloom; 

That dries the springs which babble mirth; 

That ripens Carpo in her dearth, 
So wasting all Life would consume. 

Then nature droops and pleads for rain, 
The pitiless clouds reflecting heat! 

And bird and beast in woods remain, 

Cicadas stridulating pain, 

To pipe and die for some retreat! 

XXI. 

O Groves! within your depths let sleep 
Come weigh my weary eye-lids down! 
Let naught disturb me in the deep, 
And vigils o'er my slumbers keep 

And hide from me each trouble's frown! 

XXII. 

O happy days of sport and ease 

When Youth and Innocence are free, 
And jocund Love beneath the trees 
Would fond Reciprocation tease, 
Or woo a coy affinity; 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 

When timid eyes confess a tale 

The bashful tongue could never tell; 
When dreams of brighter worlds prevail 
To shed their lustre o'er each vale 

That Gloom would darken with its spell ; 

When age is but a promised time 

For freer love's enjoyment; 
And life is but a lingering prime 
Full of the melody and chime 

Of chords that waken heart's content; 

When earth and sea and heaven's dome, 

And every grotto found therein, 
Is to some one a blissful home 
For flippant Fancy's merry roam; 
And not a dreary waste of sin. 

XXIII. 

An hour's dream can live for aye 

Although it want wise faith and hope ; 
It leaves within the soul a ray 
That brightens many a gloomy day 
That otherwise had barren scope. 

XXIV. 

The days may come, the days may go, 

And bring their sunshine or their shade, 
To me will memory ever glow 
To bring back happy days of yore 

When Youth and Love together played. 

Together played and fancied life 

The passage of a boon divine; 
The world a paradise and rife 
With all the joys of mystic strife, 

And every fiber of Love's twine. 

xxv. 
When hearts are young they can not see 
What thorns beset the paths of life; 



226 /AT PASSING THROUGH. 

They grasp at time too eagerly; 
They know not what the day will be, 
Nor what is free of toil and strife. 

Youth's pride is in each mark that shows 

The budding of maturity ; 
The will is set, the heart o'erflows 
For share of those same human woes 

The adult cries in misery! 

Could wisdom ever call a halt 

To race whose goal is meritless, 
There had been lives without a fault, 
There had been races where the halt 
Was premiumed with a happiness. 

XXVI. 

And while the youth would hasten time 

In the pursuit of happiness, 
The adult weeps a speeding prime, 
And age deplores each striking chime 
That tells of dissolution's press. 

For with this race and tide of things, 
This nameless longing for the will 
And freedom of each wish, time brings 
Reward we reck not of, and wrings 
The heart with vainer longings still. 

And Age must look upon the whim 

Of Youth with scorn of its desire; 
For while life's chalice here is brim 
With health and love, the end is dim; 
Or lost to sight by ardor's fire. 

XXVII. 

O woman, if thou couldst but pause! 

Short is the span from Youth to Age, 
And stern is nature and her laws! 
She will resent the slightest cause 

That mars a day's recorded page. 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 227 

Thy youth at best is but a day; 

Thy rosiness ephemeral; 
Thy smile is but a flitting ray 
To light thy face and then away 

By some grim law satanical! 

Thy pride is but a foolish mark 

For archers of thy destiny; 
Thy conscious thoughts are rendered stark! 
Thy fancy soars but as a spark 

That dies in its impotency! 

Thy span is short ; for school days done. 

Dame Fashion urges thee in life; 
And soon that blush, so new begun, 
Is faded in vain folly's run, 

Or thou art some poor plodder's wife! 

Thy freshness gone ere life is blown 

Into the mellowness of day; 
Or maybe child to matron grown 
Ere wisdom is, or age hath shown 

The ripeness that comes with delay. 

And Art is called to lend its aid 

In patching up a lame machine! 
And what was once a blooming maid, 
Is soon a butterfly of trade 

That fades and flutters in its teen! 

A butterfly that flits a day 

In realms of fancy pilotless! 
In thee man finds his willing prey, 
Since thou art set the spoiler's way 

And left alone in helplessness! 

XXVIII. 

Yea, Woman is Man's wage and prey. 

His luring goal, his mad desire, 
His passion's rage, his power's sway 



228 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

That lets no curb him halt, or stay 
The blood of lust when set on fire. 

And she but faintly sees, withal, 

And trusts, perhaps, where faith is sin; 
A lonely soul can not recall 
Affections though they may enthrall 
The better sentiments within. 

Man's love is like a comet come 

Within the sky of woman's sphere; 
A flash, a pleasing smile like some 
Strange Sun that flings his glory's sum 
In radiance around her there! 

A sun is but a guess at best, 

A comet but a trail of light ; 
The one, as wearied, sinks to rest 
And leaves the heart sick in its quest: 
The other scampers in the night! 

XXIX. 

'Tis part of life to live in dreams; 

Build castles but to see them fall; 
A pleasure is in what life seems, 
And he that dwells in fancy's realms 

Knows most of earthly bliss, withal. 

I've lived it through and comfort found 

In visions that I knew untrue! 
What did I care? I'd rather sound 
A pleasure false than feel the wound 
Of hope deferred I thought my due. 

It matters not what trend my thought 

Has taken in its wanton flight; 
To me the image that is wrought 
Is instinct with my life and fraught 
With pleasure, though a passing light. 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 229 

XXX. 

I've had bright visions of a home 

That I might sometime see or know, 
Wherein I'd find a sweet welcome 
And place to rest, and cease to roam 

About the world with spirit sore. 

For mine was e'er a restless soul 

That battered 'gainst its narrow cage; 
My thoughts would soar beyond control, 
Amid ethereal spheres would roll, 

And boundless platitudes engage! 

I've had bright dreams, I say: A fair 

And lonely cove 'mid wildest scene; 
A cot upon a rugged square 
Of mountain ledge, all lone and bare 

Above and capped in glinting sheen. 

Below great fertile plains, a sea 

That rolls and swells in majesty, 
A silvery stream that ploughs the lea, 
Meandering lazily to the sea 

To lose itself with murmuring sigh. 

'Tis here my restless soul would live 

With all the freedom of the lark ; 
Amid such grandeur Hope can give 
Each pleasure liberty and live 

Again as in the primal spark! 

XXXI. 

I've pictured so my home: I'd live 

'Mid balmy winds and babbling streams : 

I'd coax the birds their songs to give 

To harmonize it all: I'd live 
Forever in my languid dreams! 

And what can fairer be than this? 
Or what thing happier to plan 



230 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

Than dream-life full of happiness? 
A region of unbounded bliss 

Born of the wild conceit of man! 

For, should I pall, I'd merely try 

The world again, and, sickened, soon 
To eyrie back my soul would fly 
As bird of wild unrest: to die 

Amidst the comforts of this boon. 

'Tis false to think one satisfied 

With what he has of earth. His lot 
Is mean when he has once espied 
A fellow's, though to him untried! 
'Tis fair because he knows it not! 

The weary wanderer seeks a home; 

And he beside the hearth-stone longs 
For pleasure of an idle roam: 
And so from cradle unto tomb 

Comes discontentment's luring^songs ! 

XXXII. 

I stray alone to view the world, 
In silence seeking sympathy ; 
Ensanguined so my hopes unfurl 
To temper spirit of the churl 
That dwells within my misery : 

And thought's conspiracy is dead, 

And treason in the soul unknown ; 
And my unrest is vanquished, fled 
Beyond the pale of that it fed; 
To leave me undisturbed, alone. 

And so I revel in the sights 

Fair nature stretches out to view; 
I people space and see delights 
In idle fellowships with wights 
Unreal and to fancy due. 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 231 

XXXIII. 

How beautiful the land and sea, 

And the soft glowing sky above; 
The lofty mountains and the lea 
That stretches forth to meet and be 

Horizon to the plains of Jove! 

How beautiful each life that glows 

To color everything in view; 
How beautiful the blushing rose, 
And every flowering shrub that shows 

The Spirit which doth all renew. 

How beautiful the peaceful day 

And the serenity of night; 
How grand the storm that breaks its stay 
And thunders o'er the world away 

To wreck within its fury's might! 

E'en to the narrow range of man 

Bound to his lot by earthen gyves, 
Though humble be his lowly span, 
Yet of what grandeur is the plan 

Of everything for which he strives! 

How beautiful! how beautiful! 

And yet how strangely, truly sad 
That man is here less dutiful 
Than any creature beautiful 

That makes or leaves the world so glad! 

XXXIV. 

But when beneath the arching skies 

In lonely solitude we roam, 
We this forget and let our eyes 
Pursue the fleecy cloud that flies 

Within the heaven's azure dome. 

Could we but live within that mass 
And hie us in its billowy folds, 



IN PASS IX G THROUGH. 

The earth and all its rue might pass. 
No stricken soul to cry. alas! 

Because of Nature's bites and scolds. 

"We'd drink the harmony of sound; 

We'd listen to the lisping wind; 
We'd free ourselves of all that bound; 
We'd feel no earthly jar or wound. 

Nor binding cord that once confined! 

We'd be of truest likeness then 
To that we boast our image is. 

Or as the Soul in nature when 

Its pristine essence is again 

Resumed to be dissolved in bliss. 

XXXV. 

To be alone is company. 

As Greek philosophy once said; 
And solitude can sometimes be 
Amid the gayest company 

If hearts to sober thoughts are wed. 

I needed not this apothegm 

To tell me of a mind's unrest; 
I've felt it. and I've tried to stem 
My scurring thoughts, or hinder them 
From bringing on this vexing quest. 

I drift myself into the sea 

Of troubles that I would avoid! 
I flounder, and my buoyancy 
Is sunk by scorn and mockery, 

And all life's pleasure's are destroyed! 
xxxvi. 
But still in solitude is charm 

More subtle than the poets say; 
For what know they of hearts' alarm? 
Or measure of each damning harm 

This solitude can soothe awav? 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 233 

Because we can not speak as they 

In wild and rhythmic rapsody, 
Is it the proof of brighter way? 
Or that we stumble in our lay, 

Too full of pain for harmony? 

The deepest grief is dumb of tongue, 

And silent is the throb of death ! 
The pang that has in anguish wrung 
Was never to sweet music sung, 

For gasping is its speech and breath. 

XXXVII. 

But Solitude, O Solitude! 

How sweet to lie and dream with thee! 
How gracious is thy voiceless mood, 
Thy desert stillness, or the rude, 

Fierce roaring breakers of the sea! 

For whether in the plain or wood, 

The mountain or the ocean's calm, 
The heart has ever understood 
The language of thy pensive flood 

That soothes to rest its wild alarm. 

XXXVIII. 

I love the coves of solitude; 

I love the silent dells and wood; 
I love the mountain and the rude 
Waves of the beach, their amplitude, 

And the wild dashings of their flood. 

I watch the ocean waves and say, 

u Thalassa of wild billows, roll! 
Within thy froth fair Nereids play, 
And Oceanides there spray 

The rainbow of thy wrath's control. 

Upon thy bosom ploughs the fleet 
Of man in Golden Argosies; 



234 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

And silver though thy shining sheet, 
A slave art thou to traffic feet — 
Leviathan of human prize! 

And Neptune or Poseidon eld. 

With trident pricks thy liquid heart! 
And leaping dolphins, too. would swell 
They reign, or Nautilus compel 

Thee bear aloft her tiny yacht! 

Thou kissest shores remote and near, 
Thou liquid bridge of distant lands! 
Thou billow of a Pluvian tear 
That fell to water earth when sere. 

And here remained for Life's commands! 

We play within thy drifting sands. 

We chase thy tides and ride thy waves ; 
We compass thee within our lands, 
And dare abuse thy law's commands. 

Though yawning are thy swirling graves. 

xxx rx. 
Thy name. O Ocean, sounds of fame! 

Great Homer wound thee 'round the earth; 
Gave thee fair Tethys as thy dame, 
And fairer offspring of thy name: 

And all pronounced thee full of worth. 

••Thalassa" by the Grecian host. 

••Thalatta" in the Attic tongue. 
As waves of thee dashed on the coast 
To wreck the things of human boast — 

Of thee onomatope they sung! 

But what name fitting to the wail 

That comes with all thy storm and roar? 
When in thv seething floods the Sail 
Sinks 'neath the billows of thy gale 

That hurl strange fragments on the shore? 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 235 

XL. 

I dreamed of thee and thought I saw 

A Demon sleeping on thy breast! 
A Being wraught of nature's flaw; 
A hideous Shape defying law: 

Huge; stretching north and south and west! 

His breathing shook thy treacherous calm 

And jarred the pendant heavens high; 
And when he moved all felt alarm, 
And waves sprang up as though a harm 

Was in their sleeping so near by! 

A sail flew o'er the sea and woke 

This monster of the raging deep: 
A flashing eye, a lightning stroke, 
And thundering billows leaped and broke 

The frail thing with one fell sweep! 

And mocking winds hurled fragments high ; 

And drifts were broken on the shore ; 
And sea-gulls answered human cry; 
And storms, deriding, passed on by : 

And sunk debries forever more! 

XLI. 

From birth to death this life is change, 

New scenes to dawn with every day; 
Time's fleeting image sure can range 
From hour to hour although each strange 

Emotion halts as if to stay. 

To-day our hearts are filled with joy, 

To-morrow sorrow ekes the hour; 
And next some pleasure would alloy, 
Or drown the troubles that annoy — 

And we the playthings of some Power! 

The flying fronds, or sifting sand 
That drift on winds of Destiny; 



236 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

The huddled leaves upon the land 
Obeying fatuous command 

And swirling till we lifeless lie! 

XLII. 

We light upon a certain place 

And for a season call it home; 
We leave for each remembered face 
To linger in its wonted grace, 

So plaguing thence our aimless roam. 

Like birds of passage in their flight, 

We come and go 'mid tempests swell; 
Our greeting but a passing light 
That lends a radiance for the Night 
To snuff and give us back "farewell"! 

And friends forget and deep us dead — 

For Absence is Oblivion's host! 
And dreams that were are quickly fled 
For newer ties to bind instead, 

And leave the heart its empty boast! 

XLI1I. 

I've seen a little bird uncaged 

That fluttered 'round its prison home: 
Uncertain freedom so engaged 
Its hope and fear: and so have waged 
Emotion's battles when I roam! 

A prison is in Freedom's wild 

Where boundless vistas hove in view; 

For vastness renders impulse mild; 

Each soaring thought is natures child; 
A home, a joy, is still life's due. 

Unsatisfied we strive in vain 

To find some peace and place of rest: 
'Tis not in snapping friendship's chain 
To wander o'er earth's lonely main 
Companionless that we are blest. 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 237 

XLIV. 

In solitude the charm we find 

Is living o'er our lives again; 
Regaling thought in memory's wind, 
Allowing love-hopes so to bind 

All pleasures we would have remain: 

See with a different light and eye 

Life's incidents so near forgot; 
Recall the times for which we sigh; 
Hear songs of joy that drown the cry 

Wailed by the waif of hapless lot. 

But solitude and I have dwelt 

Within this clay for, lo! so long! 
I know his mood, and he has felt 
The gloom in me: — and such is pelt 

To spirit that gives forth this song! 

XLV. 

"Farewell!" I say to dreams each day! 

Farewell to scenes and friends I've known! 
"Farewell!" and in my feeble way 
I try express the throbs that say 

"Farewell" with depths to words unknown! 

And yet I'm only half expressed 

And misinterpreted and feared! 
And all my heart has e'er confessed 
Was disbelieved, or deemed the test 

Of baseness that the cynic stirred! 

Yet still I turn to say "farewell" 

Though doubt may mock sincerity! 
I can not, will not, break the spell 
That binds the past; I hence would dwell 

In realms of cherished memory. 



238 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

XLYI. 

I love to hold a memory sweet. 

I love to dream of pleasures past ; 
I love for pictures to repeat 
Conceptions to old Time's defeat 

And stamp impressions that will last. 

I cherish them, and, miser like. 

Would gloat o'er their possession aye! 
I hoard each vision that can strike 
The sympathetic chord I like 

To sound its melody each day. 

And so within safe keeping I 

Hold much the world may deem as dross; 
And with love's tenderness and eye. 
I touch, and see. and. loving, sigh 

For what may better be my loss! 

XL VII. 

The pictures I have laid away 

Are not Daguerreotypes of art ; 
Nor chiseled in some wasting clay : 
But photographed by finer ray 
On sensor-tablets of my heart. 

No magic sibyl ever held 

Had half the power of these to bring 
The joys back that once compelled 
The heart to worship, or that swelled 

The overflow of youth's bright spring. 

I live again the moments through 

As though no day had spaced my love; 

I feel a fellowship as true 

As any that life ever knew — 

Though answering spirit may not move. 

Enough it is to feel the bliss 

And know the dream is ever young; 



W PASSING THROUGH. 239 

That Toil and Age the brow may kiss, 
But naught can prove the heart remiss 
That holds an image Fancy sprung. 

XLVIII. 

In train a myriad visions stand 

Like sylphs in fairy-land of dream; 
Each holds a love at its command; 
Each waves submission by its hand; 

Each is, though it may only seem! 

It is, for by its subtle power 

It frees oppression of my thought, 
And, in the transport of its hour, 
Its sweeps the soul with magnic power 

To purge it of what frenzy wrought. 

XLIX. 

My school-day's love I can't deny, 

Nor how my sentiments would flow 
When under trees I used to lie 
And dream the future o'er and sigh 

For that I never was to know. 

For, school-days done, I drifted on 

To other scenes and other loves, 
For them in turn to leave upon 
My mind impressions that will run 

To end of memory's sportive roves. 

Though sweetheart of my boyhood days 

Could scarcely move affections now, 
I can not yet forget her ways, 
Or here deny that she still plays 

The wanton with my heart somehow! 

L. 

I see a maid bare-footed, tanned, 

But beauty in both form and face; 
She trips across the new plowed land 



240 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

While from her small and sun-burnt hand, 
She drops the grain where furrows lace. 

Her eyes are bright with youthful fire, 
Her hair with sunlight frolic mad. 

Her step is agile and desire 

Would burn her cheeks when eyes admire 
The rounded limbs so scantly clad. 

She is to me a mountain fay! 

A wandering Knight I am to her! 
A sweet romance with each would play — 
I hold the vision, but the day 

Is past to leave me but its cheer! 

LI. 

I see a lady, proud and grand, 

With beauty that transcends a star. 

She greets and smiles : I lose command 

Of heart and will, and, trembling, stand 

A suppliant pleading at love's bar! 

She leads me hither, thither, ways 

I dare not here confess because 
'Twould show how weak the strongest stays 
We boast! The misanthrope obeys 
The promptings of some social laws! 

The real passes and the dream 
Is all I have to mark the day. 

I only know what love did seem; 

I would not shatter fancy's realm 
By searching deeper in the play. 

LII. 

So seasons brings their gifts, and pain 
Of parting ere true friendship's ripe. 
Blue eyes or brown, in happy train 
Flash on my life to leave again, 
And I retain a passing type! 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 241 

I care not? Yes, though knowledge sees 

All semblance of the real destroyed! 
I'd rather pass my life with these 
And feel their warmth than know the freeze 

That chills the hopes of all enjoyed. 

'Twill vanish soon enough although 

We hold each shadow as divine. 
The truth contains much human woe: 
We can not always see the glow 

Of life when suffering in its pine. 

LIII. 

On moieties we live and thrive. 

On shadows base our love and faith ; 
We hope and dream and ever strive 
To keep our feeble flame alive, 

Though aimless as a shadow-wraith. 

And these with recollections vain 

Wove in the fabric of each life, 
Defy Arachne's art again 
To show the world a gayer train 

Spun of her wild and fabled strife. 

'Tis dreaming thus that poets find 

The fair creations of their verse, 
And let their brooding thoughts combine 
In rhythmic cadences divine 

The treasurers of the mental purse. 

LIV. 

How happy must the yeoman be 

Amid his fields and feeding flocks, 
Where nature's sweet simplicity 
Is mirrowed in the sky and lea, 

And even ruggedness of rocks. 

He plows his lands, he sows his grain, 
And reaps a harvest for his toil; 



242 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

He tends his herds upon the plain. 

Or drives the jolly, rumbling wain 

For products of the fertile soil. 

His cares are as the springtime cloud— 

A passing shadow and no more: 
An ill the sunshine has allowed 
To sweep his soul; a shifting cloud 
That drops a tear in flitting so! 

His prancing steeds, his lowing kine 

That feed within the meadows green, 
His lambs agambol and the swine 
That bask within the warm sunshine 
So rendering picturesque the scene; 

The chirping birds, the chanticleer 
That crows its freedom to the soul; 

The swans afloat on silver mere. 

The plough-boy's happy song of cheer— 
These are the joys of his control. 

LY. 

Contrast with this the city life 

With all its bustle and its roar; 
Its traffic greed, its angry strife 
That tramples down each feeble life 
Which vainly struggles to the fore! 

The lazzaroni of the street 

Are marks of unwept sympathy ; 

And Opulence, with callous feet. 

Halts not to tread out life complete, 
Though pitiful its feeble cry! 

LVI. 

Mistaken are we all and blind 

To truths of life as time will show; 
The good of that we hope to find 
Is lost within the maze and wind 
Of bvwavs Greed entangles so. 






IN PASSING THROUGH. 243 

Wealth is not sum of happiness, 

Nor Power measure of desire, 
Nor worldly splendor all of bliss, 
Nor charm of all in what we miss, 

Nor love alone in sensual fire! 

LVII. 

We all were woodland fauns, perhaps, 

Before we yoked ourselves as men ; 
Before we forged deceitful traps 
For human frailties and mishaps, 

Or tempted dolts in social pen. 

We boast of freedom, to enslave 

Each helpless thing that comes in way! 
Unmanumitted souls but crave 
The freedom God to others gave — 

Enslaved themselves by passion's sway! 

And man is moved by vain decrees, 

And virtue loses through such claims, 
Whilst Wealth holds greatest power to please, 
And Sham enjoys fullest ease — 

The measure of man's vaunted aims! 

And is this what was promised when 

All gave their aid to help to bind 
The social tie that was to pen 
The wild community of men 

Into the noble caste Mankind! 

LVIII. 

We speak of savage red-man found 

Within this land which we call ours ; 
We let not honest truth confound 
Our pride by telling how we hound'd 

A truer nature by our powers! 

He brought a calmuet of peace, 
A faith conceiving us divine! 



244 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

"We, "fire-water" to increase 
His ills ; a forked-tongue's release 
In proof of our benign design! 

His Manitou we soon despised, 

And forced a faith beyond his ken ; 
We haggled and deceived, devised 
New tortures for his hurt, reprised 
His lands and slew his people, then— 

Our mission was of love, we say! 

Our faith a civilizing force! 
The savage is our helpless prey; 
Evangelizing him we may 

Enlighten so the world — of course! 

LIX. 

On nature let us gaze around: 

Mark her vicissitudes and moods. 
Forget the fetters that are wound 
Confining us upon the ground 
As prey entangled in the woods. 

That Soul is free which yet can soar 

In fancy's realms though body lies 

In dungeons cold and bare; nay, more, 

That Soul is free which tunes the roar 

Of Death to anthems of the skies! 

LX. 

I feel a humid breath of air, 

I see a slumbrous, lazy, haze, 
I note the heaven's darkening care, 
And thistledown on languorous air 
Come, floating in the sultry rays ; 

I hear the droning of a bee 

That drifts upon the swelling wind; 
I catch a muffled song of glee 
That bursts from throats I can not see, 
And birds hie to their fellow-kind; 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 245 

I catch a bay from yonder wold 

That tells a tale of sore distress, 
And bleats and bellows from some fold 
Are lowly sounds which speak the scold 

That Nature can not all suppress. 

LXI. 

The strato-mist we called a haze 

Has swelled to cumuli of storm, 
And all the heavens are ablaze 
With flashes of the lightning's rays 

That zigzag in their anger's form. 

Like demons roused to wrath and hate, 

Fire Jotuns leap from cloud to cloud, 
And play as though aerial state 
Was home of some wild, wrathful, Fate 

That grinned to give the earth is shroud! 

Or Gnomes that snatch at fleeting prey 

And such pursue: so seem the arms 
Flashed from dark folds; each grasping ray 
More fearful by its scorching play 

That glows to strike e'en while it charms! 

And presently there comes the roar 

Of Winds let loose to howl apace! 
They drive the raging Storm before, 
To wreck as some base living foe 

That glories in a wanton chase. 

And thunder is the chuckling laugh 

Of this old demon we call Storm! 
The flash his smile, the rod his staff, 
The Winds his charges ; the riffraff 

Of formless things tell of his harm! 

No reins of iEolus can hold 

The furies of the tempest's sweep; 
He may as well return to fold 



246 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

Whence issued forces uncontrolled, 

Though ancients locked them in his keep. 

LXII. 

Demons of the stormy sky, 

What god-womb of the world can hold 
Each thundering Shade or Deity 
That stands the symbol of the sigh 

The Tempest heaves when full of scold? 

Can G-reek or Roman Pantheon. 

Or wilder iEsir of the north, 
Or Deva where the gods begun, 
Ahura of the burning sun, 

Tell whence or when the Storm comes forth? 

1 see in tempests Thor of old; 

I see in lightnings mjolnir hurl'd; 
The crashing in his stride so bold; 
The howling winds his wrathful scold; 

His frown the darkness of the world! 

I see a Hoder in the Gloom 

The wrath of mighty Thor pursues ; 
But Balder soon will re-illume, 
When, ressurrected from the tomb, 
He comes in all his vernal hues! 

I see a Zeus; a Jupiter; 

A Ra of strange ethereal fire; 
An Indra of the Hindu seer; 
YeHov<m of the Hebrew fear, — 

All gods of Storm and Heaven's ire! 

Which one is God of all the rest 

And shadowed in the other's glow? 
Which one controls, and which is best, 
Or which can better stand the test 
Of reason here, I do not know. 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 247 

I only know that nations have — 

Each in its own peculiar way — 
Defined their gods and counted slave 
Him who believed in other save 

Their own pet superstition's sway! 

And so I turn my eyes about 

To see them all, and reason why 

Analogy, to help me out, 
Turns all into a frenzied shout, 

Their protestations much awry. 

And thus but for the poet's dream, 

Which made each wild conjecture fair, 
We would acknowledge all a theme 
Of barbarism, or the scheme 

Of the more blatant man of care. 

LXIII. 

Akin religious faith; akin 

Desires which have brought them forth; 
Akin the passions that have been; 
Akin the human race to sin 

And every broken trust or oath! 

Akin each age to that before, 

And that decadence bids welcome; 
Akin the social states below, 
The brute to man, the high and low — 

Each thing that calls this earth a home! 

Our vanity may close our eyes, 

Our egotism may control; 
But Truth will see the linking ties, 
And how we magnify our size 

And claim a god-like, lofty, soul! 

I've seen man groping in the dark; 

I've seen him lost in grim despair; 
I've seen him full of fear to hark 



248 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

And catch an omen from the lark. 
Or harmless leapings of the hare! 

Our highest faiths seem but the sum 
Of totem dreams the savage knew 
We give hallucinations home 
And coddle every vagrant tome 
That idly speaks of heaven's due. 

LXIV. 

The vastness of the world is awe 
To man or brute of finite mind; 
We're seeking ever after Law, 
But learn not that expression's flaw 
Is in the words which have defined. 

The bigot says that man alone 

Has consciousness and eyes of truth; 
And yet how know we that our scorn 
Hides not a due more lowly born — 
A due we owe the brute, forsooth? 

Our moral sense is born of fear; 

Of fear and profit got of peace; 
We shoulder social state of care 
To let our selfishness compare 

The burden with the ill's increase. 

LXV. 

O Vanity that would aspire 

To Homes celestial yet debar 
Thy fellows from ''ethereal fire" 
Because by nature their desire 
Is speechless at the earthly bar! 

Who knows but what the Spirit moves 

As much in acorns as in men? 
And that the throbbing Forest proves 
Some Animation that behooves 
A patient mercy there again? 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 249 

» 
Humanity, thou framest laws, 

But be thou governed by the tie 
Of Sentiency! Plead thou the cause 
Of mercy ere some Life doth pause, 

Through man's abuse, to sink and die! 

Bless, too, the creed that sees a soul 

In tree or flower, beast or bird; 
That lets an angel's touch control 
The impulse of a savage soul 

Which laughs to give Destruction word. 

For Pantheism is divine! 

What fairer God evolved by thought 
Stands symbol for a brighter shrine 
Than that all things etern combine 

To leave us happiness so wrought? 

LXVI. 

Who has not seen a summer's dawn 

Where peaks and clouds were tinged with red; 

Where light, like scimeter out-drawn, 

Sharp cleaved the Night, so ghastly wan, 
To splash its blood on skies o'erhead, 

The blood to spread as blush of day, 

So bidding welcome to the Sun? 
So comes the light of Truth. So may 
A Genius rise with shooting ray 

To light the gloom Fear feeds upon ! 

The rose of Fancy coyly blushed 

Its richness in the brain of man, 
And fertile Imagery was flushed, 
And wild Invention, soaring, hushed, 

When Genius came the world to scan. 

When Genius came the world to scan 

It saw a Horner lost in lore, 
It saw a Shakespeare in the man, 



250 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

It saw a Milton's range and span; 
It gave their souls impulse to soar; 

To sweep the earth and skies of truth 

To crystalize in gems of thought ; 
To seize the world's departing youth, 
Transfix its beauty and its blowth 

And chain the image Time had wrought! 

It taught a Pindar, nursed a Burns 

To sing the psalms of pain and toil; 
It woke a Dante's soul with yearns 
For Paradise, a love that spurns 

The doubt that hangs on Faith's recoil; 

It so enriched the hampered mind 

Imagination leaped to see 
The beauties that were undefined 
Though all around it here consigned, 

Agaiting G-enius to be free! 

LXVII. 

When G-enius came upon the world 
It met a cold reception there! 

It found the human heart was churl'd, 

And low all aspirations hurl'd 

By mundane mockery and despair! 

It eked its day 'mid toil and pain; 

It labored for a visioned goal; 
With patience gathered little gain, 
And for that bore the brunt and bain — 

The stigma of a witless soul! 

Its force creative stirred, withal; 

A Titan was within the strife! 
Volition leaped to duty's call: 
Olympian heights could ne'er appall 

The impulse born of such a life! 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 251 

The future pays the homage due 

The heroes of the scornful past ; 
And Fame, though laggard with the new, 
Adorns the dead, and hides from view 

The rancor that could never last. 

LXVIII. 

On wings we soar when thoughts have sway 

Untrammeled by terrestrial bonds, 
And phantom creatures people day, 
And thoughts delight in elfish play 

When Fancy in its flight confounds: 

For slumbering in the soul is spark 

Of wild, unmanumitted, thought ; 
Strike fetters off, and, like a lark, 
It soars aloft describing mark 

Of that ethereal Forces wrought! 

And thus was fashioned man's delight; 

And from such source sprung songs of love; 
And many visions still have flight 
To blush the nadir of the Night 

And turn the thoughts to things above! 

LXIX. 

It matters not the faith or creed, 

Nor what we call the goal and end; 
Each Age and Nation knows God's deed, 
And claims as true alone its creed — 

The rest to wild delusion tend! 

For man is ever vain to boast 

A truth beyond his mental grasp; 
And when in deepest mystery lost, 
And thought in chaos truly tost, 

He claims to see Delusion's clasp! 

LXX. 

The fairest of the flowers grown 
In soil of man's existence here. 



252 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

Is Truth, and though but feebly blown, 
Its perfume is the richest known 
In making sweet the social sphere. 

And wheresoever throned is Truth 

There is the shrine of all that's good; 
And there may Virtue live in youth 
Though seeing cumbent head of Ruth 
Bowed to its rosary and rood! 

LXXI. 

The hills are brown; the trees show stains 

Of gold and red 'mid fading green; 
The furrowed fields for winter grains 
Stretch faraway o'er searing mains, 
And lonely is the passing scene. 

The sky is clear and calm and blue, 

And silence reigns within the day; 
And all around the brilliant hue 
Of dying Summer meets the view — 
The blush of verdure in decay. 

"We know by drifting leaves and sighs 

That sunny hours of joy are few; 
We know by opalescent skies 
And russet woods, that Nature dies 
To pay the rolling Seasons' due! 

And now to Winter's ruthless care 

The subtle charms of Summer hie ; 
And trees to biting winds will bare 
Their trunks to stand grim spectres there — 
Bleak monuments to parts that die. 

LXXII. 

Autumnal days. Autumnal days, 

What sadness is your fleeting scene! 
What visions float within the haze 
That comes with earth's departing rays — 
The fading glow of summer's sheen? 



IN PASSING THROUGH 253 

Yea, like a funeral pyre of life, 

A blaze of glory is your death! 
And all decadence here is rife 
With sad remembrance of the strife 

Harassing everything of breath. 

The winds cry through your drooping boughs 

'Stho' wailing death of all that's good; 
While petals of frost-faded flowers, 
And fronds of seed, in drifting showers, 

Are scattered in the fields and wood. 

And in the dying year we see 

The symbol of Life's fleeting span; 
We see the Great stript as the tree, 
And, reft of honor, left to be 

The simulacrum of the Man! 

We see the goal of Faith and Hope 

Fall from its sceptred throne on high: 
We see proud Grandeur's downward slope, 
The narrow range of all its scope 

Wherein to live and fight and die! 

LXXIIl. 

The Carpo season of the world 

When man should gather harvests in: — 

Hast thou so garnered up each pearl 

Of wisdom? or been dunce or churl 
To fill thy coffers full of sin? 

Thy day of need draws now apace: 

Need of the riches fled and gone! 
Need of the happiness we chase 
In childhood's blissful hour, or trace 

In benisons the man hath known! 

The dole of Spring and Summer flies ; 

'Tis Autumn brings us thought's regret: 
A buoyant heart 'neath brilliant skies 



254 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

In gloomy weather often dies, 
If other moods bid it forget ; 

Forget that future days may want 

The things so lavish to the youth, 
When Plenty pines till lean and gaunt 
The seasons find the man; his vaunt 
The mock of senile hope and truth! 

LXXIV. 

And yet these Autumn days that bring 

Sad memories of pleasures past, 
Or show us faults that left their sting, 
Can also give us thoughts of Spring, 
Reanimating all at last! 

Earth dies, but Death is only sleep, 
And, Balder like, it wakes again 
To bring us joy, and, while we weep 
Its death, old Time doth slowly creep 
To bring us Life, sunshine and rain: 

Sunshine and rain to quicken Life 
And hurry pleasures to their place; 

To stir the nascent germ of strife ; 

To bud the fields with blossoms rife 
With all the hues the rainbows trace. 

For, Winter past, the earth again 

Blooms forth in beauty and in cheer; 
And what in gloom has fearful been, 
May prove a good with power to win 
The soul from its low groveling care. 

So may it be with all; and when 

Senescent grown, may newer Light 
Illume the sky and once again 
Reanimate the Soul and then 

Bid morning to the chill of Night! 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 255 

LXXV. 

Farewell ye passing days of joy! 

Farewell ye seasons full of youth! 
Farewell, but let our hopes employ 
Your visions left recalling joy 

To spirits darkened by earth's ruth. 

Farewell! we wait the advent here 

Of Springtime with its skies of blue; 
And 'round the fire-side's glowing cheer, 
We'll sit and dream while seasons drear 

Creep on to all the world renew. 

We'll wait, and while we eke the hour 

We'll talk of moments once enjoyed; 
And through imagination's power 
That colors thought's mysterious flower, 

We'll live as though again employed. 

Most of our pleasures are in dreams, 

And absence stills each aching pain ; 
Aloof the past a heaven seems, 
So full the glow of mellowed beams 

That fall entrancing Manhood's wane. 

Most of our ills imagined, too, 

Or self-inflicted without cause! 
The grusomeness of thoughts to do 
The things that ages long may rue 

Unconscious of these sequent laws. 

So Wisdom would the chalice fling, 

All brimming with its poisoned draught, 

Into the Past to let the sting 

Left from its bitter contents bring 
The thoughts of other potions quaft. 

LXXVI. 

Then fill the empty bowl of cheer! 
Heap fagots on the smouldering fire! 



256 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

We'll toast and drink to seasons drear, 
The bumpers sparkling ruby tear 
Shed by old Summer to expire! 

Around the hearthstone of our home 
We'll talk of days of joy and pain; 
We'll talk of times when weary roam 
Oppressed each wanderer without home 
Or social comfort in his plane, 

We'll watch the silhouetted dreams 

Traced by the fire's soft flickering light 
Deciphering faces in the beams 
Instinct with life: — for truly seems 
This fancy to the mind to-night! 

We're young again and springtide stirs 
The first impulse of youth, and Love 
Is raptuous with each hope that purrs 
To wish, and to the heart recurs 
The image of its first felt Love! 

Too soon the soot mars fairness seen, 

And we have blackened embers there 
Of Fancy's dream! A truth, I ween, 
That lacks not vision that is keen 
To pierce hallucinations fair! 

LXXVII. 

The dream dispelled, we see the fact 
That rudely hurls our idols down. 
Life is a season's strange compact 
'Tween Growth and stern Decay; an act 
Omnific with a fatal crown! 

Each season is a symbol, too, 

That marks the different stages here. 

In Spring and Summer Force is new 

And full of energy to do 

The part that wish may hold as dear; 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 257 

In autumn powers weaken fast 

And shed their bloom for ripened thought; 
In Winter comes the leadened cast 
When thoughts would linger in the past 

And hoard what memory has wrought. 

'Tis then the May-day's song and sky, 
And Youth and Love 'neath basking sun, 

And Autumn with its rich supply, 

December's want, hoar Age's cry, 
Are in our dreams compounded one! 

'Tis then the virtuous acts of youth 

Know their reward's vitality; 
'Tis then man feels the strength of truth, 
The throb and sting of folly's ruth, 

If life was passed in vanity. 

The Ages are as Life, each one 

An epoch is of good or bad; 
A day of silly quib and pun 
Where folly is the rule, or one 

Wherein the senses are not mad. 

Each leaves its mark to coming years : 

The aeon of the dunce to pass 
Degenerating hopes and fears ; 
The age of Virtue into years 

Bright with the deeds that merit has. 

LXXVIII. 

Move on, O Time, we can not stay 

The wheels of cycles slipping by! 
Each moment is a cam, each day 
A splicing felloe on the way 

To circuit of Eternity! 

Each change escapement of the flow 

Recorded on the dial Earth; 
Each phase decree for Life to show 



258 /A PASSING THROUGH. 

Its adaption here to grow 

And fix itself for future birth. 

Before inventive brain or hand 

Caught at thy fleeting images, 
Thou hadst the power to command 
And stamp thy changes on the land 
And sea, in heaven's prodigies. 

A god to ancients, yet to man 

A fate that knows no sympathy; 
Thou breakest up his boasted plan, 
And measurest off his little span, 
To give him Death's infinity! 

Thou bringest labors which are vain; 

Thou settest him in divers ways; 
He hopes some knowledge here to gain, 
But moves at tangent by the strain 

Of thy recurring change and phase! 

He strives and struggles and would onve 

Life's energies in hopes to know 
The secret of Want's suppletive — 
And when he has but learned to live, 
Death comes to bid him rise and go! 

O Time, thou abstract chain of woes! 

Thou link of blisses forged to G-od! 
Thou "fleeting image" of the pose 
Eternity a moment shows. 

To change with swiftness of a nod! 

For Father Chronos still devours 
The offspring of his gat to-day: 
The earth and sea and Being's powers, 
The sun's fair rays, the blushing flowers, 
And everything of breath and clay! 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 259 

LXXIX. 

Life, Death, and the Hereafter, men 

Come prating of as though they knew 
Aught of God's purpose, how or when 
He moves or wills, or, even then, 

What He has set for us to do! 

They would prescribe their Deity 

And set a limit to His will! 
He who professes here an eye- 
That sees into the future, why, 

He little knows his feeble skill! 

The utmost that each one can learn 

Is that he simply nothing knows, — 
Save that to him the world is stern, 
And labors rise at every turn 

Harassing Life unto its close! 

LXXX. 

We know that we know nothing, yet 

The world is full of pedantry 
That wisely looks and nods to let 
True wisdom see its worth and get 

A plumbing of mentality! 

We know that we know nothing, then 

Why here profess an eye, or mind, 
That sees, or comprehends God when 
The knowledge in itself would then 

Prove us but stumbling creatures blind? 

Or if we know God's wish or word, 

Why all these divers faiths and ways? 
Are warring tenets here absurd 
To give the Devil all the herd 

Of wild fanatics of each craze? 

LXXXI. 

We know that we know nothing, but 
We grasp at things intangible, 



260 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

And blindly fall into the rut 
Of Ignorance that's worn and cut 
By folly indefensible. 

The lesson Time would teach us all 
Is that we only half can see : 

And that the story of Man's Fall. 

Is such half-light, is fable all. 
As well as knowing what's to be. 

LXXXII. 

Believe or not. man's faith is shorn 
Of much that lent a pleasing ray : 
We must confess that place and bourne 
Of Death's dark Province is unknown. 

And blank the speech of fanes each day. 

Faith is not here advanced by sight. 

Nor foresight cleared by help of Faith ; 
The coming of the mental light 
Estrange the two. and each with might 
Assails the other's fading wraith! 

'Tis hard to bring ourselves to say 

The Light we thought we saw in youth. 

Was but a feeble, flickering ray 

Of egotism: When its day 

Is past comes advent of the Truth! 

Each age has martyred someone who 
Denied the faith that ruled his day: 

And each accuser found his rue. 

And Bigotry that rose and slew. 
Lived to behold its own dismay! 

LXXXIII. 

Like flights of strange, migrating birds. 

Or shadows chasing flying clouds. 
We meet in wild, stampeding, herds. 
To mingle, pass, or greet with words 

L'nheard. or lost within the crowds: 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 261 

We meet within a narrow span, 

We glance into a kindly face ; 
We feel a kindredship in man ; 
We seek a comrade there who can 

Help us to eke the time and place. 

We meet and dream a sweet conceit ; 

We find an object then to love; 
But ere that dream is yet complete, 
Some babbling fact will sure defeat 

The end — and in the Night we move! 

We meet and pass and scarcely know 

What thing did disenchant our dream; 
The dullness of the after-glow 
We feel, but find the light no more, 

And see alone a fancied beam! 

LXXXIY. 

Love is the child of youthful days, 

The sweet companion of old age; 
Consoling in its wilful ways, 
Tormenting if the truth portrays 

The just demerit of its rage. 

The light we saw in passing eye 

Was but desire within our own ; 
Reflection's cast too soon to die 
And leave us but the wistful sigh 

That comes to tell us hope is flown! 

LXXXV. 

We meet in highways of this life, 

We nod and pass and then forget ; 
Our thoughts insistent on the strife 
We wage for station, rank and life: 

And so it simply stands, 'we met'! 

•Twere better we should meet and part 

And strangers so continue still, 
Than that we should awake a heart 



262 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

To feel the keen and bitter smart 
That comes with knowledge of its ill. 

The dream might stir a latent flame 

That best were left in slumber deep; 
And passions might arouse to claim 
A mastery and bring to shame 
The spirit of our restless sleep. 

LXXXVI. 

And so we journey on to age 

And winter of the dying year; 
Recording hope and joy and rage 
And pain and death on every page 
The Book of Life doth open here! 

LXXXVII. 

A strange fatality it seems. 

Attends us on our lonely way: 
Lives frothing like fierce mountain streams 
That leap wild cataracts — for beams 

Of light to flash the rainbow's ray! 

But dawn and eve have rainbow-ray, 

And not the noon-tide's burning light ; 
The first forewarning for the day, 
The other promise that we may 
See less of storm within the night! 

They both betokening broken skies 
That sift the sunshine of a hope ; 
They speak of balmy seasons, dyes 
Of Spring, and not the winter skies 
Which lower heaven's gloomy scope. 

LXXXVIII. 

And so in all the deeds of earth 

We find more ills withal than bliss! 
Conflicting from the hour of birth 
Are all the acts we deem of worth, 
And none of them give happiness! 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 26- 

A serpent coils within the nest 

Of happy bird that buildeth low; 
And lowly mortals seeking rest 
May find a dungeon as their quest, 

And peace but pain forevermore! 

The pomp of life is little worth, 

Tho' magnified to worldly eyes, 
And equal is the lowest birth 
To the most lordly one of earth, — 

For each is leveled when he dies! 

No artifice can Time convince, 

Nor trick devise a happiness ; 
The old, the young, or pauper, prince, 
All in some earthly stock must wince, 

And here endure some painful stress. 
xc. 
Who finds contentment gropes it blind, 

Is proverb learned too late in life ; 
And strength is wasted in the wind 
Of thought and deed we give to ffnd 

A way avoiding terrene strife. 

No happiness, no earthly bliss 

Awarding pains or sorrow borne! 
As light as silly Fancy's kiss 
Is the caress of Happiness, 

And we arouse to find it gone! 

To find it gone and in its place 

The void of utter loneliness ; 
Sweet memory alone to trace 
The cherished hope, the wily grace, 

That contrast here this evil press! 
xci. 
No happiness! no happiness! 

I've reached that point where Envy cries 
For lot of others, yea, in stress 



264 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

Of anything that holds caress 
For simple life or human sighs! 

The cynic laughs awhile but sneers 
Oft hide a bleeding heart of woe! 

The snarl is mark or wasted tears ; 

The lesson what the scornful years 
Have taught a tender heart to know! 

'Tis Faith that soonest finds the road 

Which leads to Doubt and Hope's despair; 
A Timon bears the greatest load, 
Since, trusting all the vicious horde, 
He pays for laying bosom bare! 

For throwing bosom bare for daws 

To pluck the heart within their greed; 

Voracious here to fill their maws; 

Inhuman in observing laws 

Professed to govern Christian creed! 

XCTI. 

A change! a change! O Heavens, why 

A lagging day, a lazy hour? 
A tendium of thought, a sigh 
For absent things, while those near by 

To satisfy have not the power? 

And yet if all things came at will 

Our every wish to gratify, 
Would we the happier be? or still 
Dissatisfied and deem as ill 

The fortune that attends a sigh? 

The unattainable we seek ; 

The thing possessed we oft despise; 
Regrets and longings make us weak; 
We're constant only to the bleak 

And chill despairs of earthly cries. 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 265 

XCIII. 

The winter hath its moaning winds, 

Its pall and shroud for earth's decay ; 
A gloomy dome the eye confinds; 
The Spirit of the year repines 

Within the barren woods and lay. 

From leadened skies great flakes come forth 

Like spotless doves from cote on high ; 
They drift and scatter as though loath 
To bide command that sent them forth 

The fleecy troopers of the sky! 

They drift and marshal till the earth 

Is covered with a robe of white, 
As ermined for some deed of worth, 
Or clothed within the shift of dearth 

To hide its barrenness from sight: 

And aged seems it then, withal, 

And plaintive, too, its feeble cry; 
And mighty trees, like spectres tall, 
Or monuments of death, recall 

The thoughts to mock of Destiny! 

xciv. 
When hair is colored as the snow, 

And form is bent and eye is dim, 
'Tis then man's feebleness we know, 
And what repays for all his show 

Of valor battling for life's whim. 

He is the sport of Time, withal ; 

The plaything of a passing day; 
A breath of momentary thrall; 
A sigh that flees its own recall; 

An impulse of an atom's play! 

His birth is Spark struck from the flint 
Of unknown Forces, and his youth 



266 IN PASSING THROUGH. 

And age are rounds of labor's dint 
In Nature's workshop ; but no hint 
Is given of the natal truth! 

Nor of the pause which seasons bring, 

And which we call his earthly death ; 
The Unknowns to the Unknowns fling 
This hyperbolic, flaming, Thing 
We call a Life, a Soul, a Breath! 

xcv. 

Man is, and that is all we know! 

He goes, and Speculation's dream 
Tells where! No probing here below 
Has reached as yet that Other Shore, 

However frantic Faith may scream! 

xcvi. 
We see our friends around us die ; 

We clasp their hands in gripless fold, 
And close their eyes, and wonder why 
The Beings can so silent lie 

While bodies waste in earthly mould! 

The deed is one of love: the thought 

The child of its own mystery! 
The Force that moved the one has wrought 
Conditions of the other; taught 
The mind its impotence to see! 

The earth is parent here and grave 
Of you and me and all we know! 

Within its bosom sleep the brave, 

And winds sweep through the vaulted nave 
Of Faith, deriding in their blow! 
xcvu. 

Blow! Winds of pitiless death, blow on! 
Blow till your hate in fury dies! 

Blow! blow till chilling shades creep on 



IN PASSING THROUGH. 267 

To drink the rays Hyperion 

Would give the earth to light its skies! 

Blow till the Night of Destiny 

Engulfs the cringing soul of Man! 
Blow till this mundane sphere is free 
Of Life and Love and Phantasy, 

And Death and Hate the ages span! 

Blow through the night of Gloom and 111! 

Blow through the shadowy vale of Death! 
Blow till the howl of Manes fill 
The echoing cave and barren hill ! 

Blow till Destruction grasps for breath! 

Blow then on deathless earth your gale — 

Maruts to wake its Life again! 
Blow till the buds of Youth regale 
The scene once more to blush the pale 

Of Death with blossoms that have been! 

Blow! blow Rejuvenescence's dawn! 

Blow life to Hope's perennial Spring! 
Blow Youth and Beauty into brawn 
Of Manhood with its strength unshorn! 

Blow till the happy welkins ring! 

Blow all your bitterness and then 

Blow zephyrs of a soothing fame! 
Blow out the fears that once have been ; 
Breathe peace and happiness again, 

And fan to life Love's smouldering flame! 



ET CETERA. 

[Being the "Weedings" from In Passing Through.] 

When Spring brings love to every heart, 
And opens flood-gates of the soul, 

How cold were Life to know no part 

Of love, nor feel the burning dart 

Which amorous dreams would here control. 

For passions of the heart but stir 
To prove that all the world is kin, 

And that each soul's existence here 

Depends on love, and every care 
Arises from the strife to win 

A happy home, a love, a life, 

A sounding fame, a hope, a name, 
A blissful peace, a joy, a wife: 
The fierce contest with worldly strife 
But glorifying Passion's game! 

* * * 

Our thoughts are always young, 'tis said, 
Though brow is wrinkled, hair is gray, 

And virile nimbleness is fled 

To join the seasons that are sped 
From chill December back to May. 

* * * 

The heroes of the past have been 
But pygmies to their fellowmen. 

'Tis time alone that shows them kin 

To Titans in their strength to win 
The victory denied them then. 

* * * 

The sage who wrote of Rasselas, 

Warned man of hope's credulity; 
Told him that to a lowly pass 



ET CETERA. 269 

Come all vain aims : and proof, alas, 
The ages give in verity! 

* * * 

Would that our dreams could always be; 

The present hold the past, and yet 
The pleasures of the future see 
Unmarred by pains we pass to be 

The hapless creatures of regret! 

* * * 

Thus is the want of man unfilled 

Within this halting place called home; 
And if his struggles here be willed, 
His hands to labor are unskilled 

And little from their efforts come! 

And so a thing of Chance we guess 

Each impulse and the end it brings; 
And when a Force we must confess, 
"Tis one insensible and less 

A Being than the flux of things! 

* * * 

O Sleep, what charms come with thy sway! 

And with what subtleness thy drowse 
Steals o'er the being to allay 
The wild emotions that the day 

Within the soul would here arouse? 

* * * 

The heart of man to nature turns 

And claims relationship in love; 
And wall-confinements then it spurns, 
And for wild freedom ever yearns, 

And seeks the umbrose woodland cove 

To lose itself and thoughts as well 

Within the tangled copse and vine, 
And be as one with things that dwell 



270 ET CJETERA. 

Within the woods, to let that swell 

With rapture which was wont to pine. 

* * * 

Remote the end will ever be 

We vainly here pursue and hail! 
And that which lures us on we see 
In some mirage of dream, and we 

Are struggling on to sink and fail! 

* * * 

Could man's environs ever be 

The drapery of his conceit, 
Could fancy live forever free, 
Unconscious of mortality 

And what distempers here would mete, 

'Twould be an act of infamy 

Unworthy one of tender heart, 
To open eyes a grief to see 
That otherwise would here be free 

To revel out its happy part. 

* * * 

The youths of either sex are wild 

To taste of liberty and age. 
They put aside, with treason mild, 
The thoughts and habits of the child, 

And rush to sterner toils engage; 

And, full of fire, they will not think, 
But rather choose to ride the tide 

Of dalliance, e'en to the brink 

Of ruin — but to quaff the drink 

That passion's chalice holds to pride! 

With age comes tendency to drift 

From what in youth the heart would prize-, 
And cares o'erhang and rarely shift 
To let a sun-ray through the rift 
To warm the chill of social ties. 



ET CjETERA. 271 

A Woman's strength is in her worth, 

And not within a sensual deed; 
'Twere pity G-od should give her birth 
To be a wanton on the earth 

To bear and leave a worthless breed! 

* * * 

Yea, true, 'tis man alone's deformed, 

And he that mars the face of earth ; 
And he that tortures and is harmed 
By his own craft, and yet is armed 

For the destruction of all worth I 

He builds and he destroys. He plays 

With dangerous tools and thinks his deeds 

Are wise; and in this he displays 

Noetic brain, perhaps, but ways 
In strange adjustment to his needs. 

* * * 

Instinct with dream the poets see 

The visions of their ardor born; 
The creatures of wild phantasy ; 
Eidolons that can never be, 

Or things of strange Athenic spawn! 

* * * 

Stir man to see the little light 

A faith can cast and he will scorn 
Its feeble ray, and find delight 
In setting all the world aright, 

Though disenchantment so is born! 

A disenchantment that will blight 

His hopes in dreams of things to be; 
Philosophy the only light 
To guide him through the starless Night 

That falls when Faith can no more see! 



272 ET CjETERA. 

Born free are we? Equality 

Is not a thing of birth, but worth. 
Tis stuff that makes the man: degree 

Of elements arranged to be 

Perchance a power on the earth. 

This way some move while some move that- 

These children in their passions blind. 
Those as though some divine fiat 
Predestined them to conquer that 

Which blocks the way of dull mankind. 

* * * 

A man should cherish no conceit — 

For wantonness doth still disguise! 
How rude unto oneself to treat 
The heart in its love-wakened beat 

For what it profits to be wise! 

* * * 

We call Dark Age of history 

The time man was the woman's slave; 

When Knighthood was the vanity. 

And strife for plume or glove, decree 
Of Honor with the dolt and^knave! 

* * * 

Was Rome more happy than^wild G-aul 

Whose peoples lived in huts of straw? 
She rolled in wealth and vice, withal. 
But could not e'en so much as call 
Her soul her own by will or law! 

Peace hung upon a tyrant's smile; 

It trembled at his passing nod ; 
And virtue was a thing of guile, 
Defloured for an idle while 

As though a luckless gift of G-od! 

* * * 

Society, Society. 

Who forced on woman sin and shame. 



ET CjETERA. 273 

And filled her head with vanity, 
And taught her inutility 

In that for which she bears the blame? 

Thy fashions wrecked a graceful form 

And hugged diseases in their grip; 
Thy arts to maiden's blush did harm; 
Thy manners lost her simple charm 

And stole the truth from eye and lip! 

* * * 

As vines entwined, the dancers wind 

Their satyr-sylph-like arms around, 
As tendrils so to hold and bind 
In union here these polar kind, 

Magnetic by the touch and sound! 

And, drunk with passion's melody, 

They move with love's voluptuousness, 
And swell with billows of the sea 
That rolls within in mutiny 

To wiser thoughts of soberness! 

* * * 

And, mark you, man can soon forget, 

For all the world is his engross! 
'Tis woman in her sphere must fret 
And suffer martyrdom, — and yet 

Be comfort to some man, of course! 

* * * 

A woman's love or hate is spring 

That moves her hands to any deed : 
In love her heart defies the fling, 
Of Fate's or Fortune's sharpest sting: 

She hides her wounds to let them bleed! 

She glides an angel on this earth; 

She stands for that faith would proclaim; 
She gives to blessing lives their birth, 



274 ET CETERA. 

S [ r jving m :her of all worth 
And sweet almoner :: love's i 

* * * 

I hold if thai : hear! when set 

On ~1_: ; :.if :'.: /.age :::-." 
Is prone to any crime abet 

dch clears the way or helps to let 
An object pass for its increase. 

] from the first when :■:-.: tie meant 

Pt>: :: ancestral trade. 

The/-:'. ; stood for vile intent 
I: seiz Od aggrandizement 

The aim :: every barter made! 

* * * 

The wise will always love and sigh: 
foolish only live in bliss! 

When buoyant hopes would soar to high 
Reflection shows the sham and lie 

That are one half of ail that is ! 

* * * 

••The Universe is transforms tion 

Life is opinion." said the ~ise 
Aurelius of Rome a declaration 
That tells most truly the relation 

Of ali ~e know and what we would surmise. 



TEXTS AND PARAPHRASES 

FROM THE CLASSICS. 



FROM MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS. 

Of things which are. 
The things which are are seed of that which will be, 

And every care will breed a liberty. 
For Nature loves a change, and wills once bowed 

Will find a wider range when not so cowed. 

%v MtKpa ^v^rj. 
Thou little Soul here burdened with proud flesh! 
Why hobblest thou into each earthly mesh 
Old Spider, Time, would weave for thy entrap? 
Thou art a silly thing to muse and lap 
For the embrace of Death again at last, 
Thy future all as dark as was thy past. 

Tt UdOo); 
Death is but the dissolution of elements 

Of which we are compounded ; 
The fear of it but the mental torture by 

Which our judgments are confounded. 
Duty. 
When thou risest from thy bed 

Think of what thou ought to do; 
Let thy spirit so be led 

That no act will cause thee rue. 
Ants and bees and spiders, all, 

Work with will and some accord; 
Art thou less than these, withal? 

Work and even thoughts applaud. 
Busy mind and busy hand 
Hold the world at their command. 



276 TEXTS AXD PARAPHRASES 

What thou findest here to do, 
Do, and all the rest is sure! 

AXD TO THIS PASS THEY COME! 

A good physician was Hippocrates, but he fell sick 

and died! 
Good prophets were the Chaldasa. indeed, but Fate 

proved that they lied! 
So Alexander, Pompeius, and Caesar, too, were 

mighty in their day. 
But Time swept all their mighty armies, arms and 

mighty men away! 
And Heraclitus proved that all the world would be 

consumed by fire. 
Yet, filled with water, smeared with mud, himself 

did so expire! 
And lice were bane of great Democritus, and lice 

killed Socrates — 
(For though these last were human beings called, 

they were vermin sent to tease!) 
So all the great of earth come to this pass, how- 
ever loud their shout: 
Art thou embarked? Hast made a voyage here? 

Art come to share? G-et out! 
To be a slave of the bark in which thou art sailing 

through this life, 
Is to make thy soul less than its clay, thy G-od less 

less than this mundane strife. 
Flattery. 
Man loves himself above all men, 

Esteems himself most wise; 

Yet holds his own opinions less 

Than others' flattering lies! 

The death reward of the great 

Ashes and smoke and a dreary tale 
Are the death-reward of the great; 



FROM THE CLASSICS. 277 

And Fame is the index hand to the Vale 
Of Tears where the struggles of man avail 

Him nothing when he thinks that Fate 
Will turn him aright from the fatal trail. 

Thy children are like leaves. 

Thy children are like leaves. They bud within the 

spring, 
And wax and fade with seasons ; and the winds 
Blow them to earth to rot with everything; 
While in each place a bud again begins. 

Let clothe spin thy taread. 

Let Clothe spin thy thread, O man; 

Eebel not 'gainst thy fate! 
They who would know the world's true plan 

Must mark the fallen great. 

Of human life. 

A point of time, the life of man ; 

A rushing flux his substance all; 
A dull perception his to scan 

Conditions of his earthly thrall! 
His soul, a mighty whirl, is found 
Decaying ere it knoweth bound 
Of its own being or reward; 
And Fortune faileth to accord 
With promises of youth; and Fame, 
For lack of judgment, halt and lame! 
To say it all within a word: 
Life is a stream and men a herd 
Of reckless things; the body pain, 
The soul a dream, its longings vain, 
While warfare of each being here 
Is fruitless by the guage of care; 
For, all unknown, each struggles on 
To find, at last oblivion! 



278 TEXTS AND PARAPHRASES 

And thus philosophy is prize 
To him who would be truly wise. 

FROM PIXDAR. 
Life a>~d max. 
We are creatures of a cl; 

hat man is no one can say: 
If not but a shadowy dream. 
Light of soul an unknown beam 
Falling from the heavens high. 
Flame and Light of Deity. 
Then at least a borrowed Flame 
Wanting source and without name. 
Sporting in the passing light. 
Swallowed by the hungry Xight! 

The worth of poesy. 
Daughters of the Muses, sing! 
Cheerful mirth to you belongs. 
Physic to the dogs we fling 
For the tonic of your songs : 
Nor can hot bath purge as well 
As the music of your barf 
For the soothing strains do swell 
Pleasures to here drown the spell 
Of life's pains so fierce and sharp! 
O the thoughts of Poesy 
Live when deeds are in decay! 
The worth of truth. 
Point thy tongue on the anvil of truth; 
Look to the Lie as the parent of ruth: 
Sin is the bawd of the heart and the head. 
Better not be than virtue be dead! 

PROM CALLDIACHLS. 

Tee choice of brides. 
■A choice. O sire, of brides I have to make. 
And Pittacus shall tell me which to take. 



FROM THE CLASSICS. 279 

The one forsooth, doth equal me in birth 

And wealth and love, and is esteemed of worth; 

The other, far above my rank is she, 

And I must rise to her equality: 

Which one now take, O Mitylean wise? 

Which one would Hymen lead me more to prize?" 

And lifting up his staff, the old man said: 

"See yonder boys with spinning tops engaged? 

Mark thou their choice and be thou happ'ly wed 

By choosing simply as the youths unaged. " 

"Spins each the one that mates best," cried the boys; 

"An omen that may fill thy home with joys! 

Choose then, O Dion, her to be thy bride 

Whom love would claim and not thy vaunting pride." 

Thy fate, o heraclitus! 
Thy fate, O Heraclitus, starts my tears, 

For I recall to mind how thou and I 
Have chatted suns to rest through seasons, years, 

And yet our hearts for closer bonds would sigh! 
Thou art, O friend, long, long ago but dust, 
And life-long chains are broken as with rust: 
But still thy strains will always love command, 
And Death on these shall never lay his hand! 

Here timon dwells. 
Here dwell I, Timon, whom men call 

Man-hater, viper, toad! 
Let on me all thy curses fall ; 

Thy venom here unload! 
This only ask I of thy scorn: 

Curse, fool, but pass thee on! 

A eye, 'O Tt)u,o>v. 
O Timon, since thou art no more, 
Is Death as hateful as Life's glow? 
Yea, for the Darkness hides the manes 
Of more than made fair earth a Hades! 



280 TEXTS AND PARAPHRASES 

FROM ANACREON. 
Gold. 

' 'Lovers are bought and sold 

For gold!" 
It makes the friend and brother bold, 
Incites to wars and murders cold; 
It makes of all the world a scold, 

Does gold! 

In every age, in every clime, 
It breeds and fosters strife and crime, 
And tortures age, and urges Time 
To prod the Rancor-wold, 
Does gold! 

It measures on earth man's every gain; 
It forges on him a gilded chain, 
It wrecks his soul within its strain 
Put on the social fold, 
Does gold! 

'Tis the glittering fool that Midas fed, 
And many another like him is dead 
Whom greed has swallowed up or led 

To feed on food so cold, 

Unpalatable and old 
As gold! 

Of all the goods of life here doled 
To greedy man, or young or old, 
There's naught so vain, so bare, so cold, 
So little worth when death is tolled, 
When Life's fair curtain back is rolled, 
Than this glittering cold, earth-mould, 
Base gold! 



ALCYONE. 

[First Part Republished. Second Part Published for the First Time.] 

DRAMATIS PERSONS. PART I. 

Ceyx, King of Trachiniae. Alcyone, daughter of ^Eolos; wife 

^olos, God of Winds; father Al- of Ceyx. 

cyone. Achlys (gloom), wif e of iEolos. 

Zephyros, ] Klaumone (tears), sister pf Aley- 

EUROS, I TVl w - j one. 

Boreas, [ ine wmas - ^Egle, i Hesperides, daugft- 

Notos, J Arethusa, V ters of Hesperos, sis- 

Nephos (cloud), and ) Sons of Hespera, j ters of Ceyx. 
Klauthmon (raindrop), S iEolos. Thetis, I-Wprpidp* 

Triton, ] Amphitrite, etc., f 

Proteus, ( « rnA* Chloris, Goddess of Flowers. 

Glaukos, j oea KjOOS ' Aphrodite, Goddess of Love. 

Mgjeon, j Echo, a nymph. 

Eros, God of Love. Sibylla, a prophetess. 

Pan, a Woodland Deity. Methe (drunkenness), a slave. 

Other Nereides, Dryads, Naiads, Potamids, Oceanides, etc. , together 
with Satyrs, beasts and birds, etc. ; also a fierce Dragon. 

Scene First: Hesperia, or the island of the Blest; afterwards in the 
Liparse islands, or home of ^Eolos. 

Time— Thirteen hundred years B. C. 



PART I. 
Scene I. — Hesperia; the Seashore, Ocean and Garden, with 
Castle in the distance. Enter Alcyone borne in a hammock by the 
two Wind sprite, Euros and Zephyros. 

Alcyone. And this is the land so far renowned on earth! 
The Macaron Isles the race of man would call 
The Blest Abode, Elysium of the soul, 
Which here no wild contention sure can feel, 
Nor pain nor sorrow know; where life is whole; 
Where death abideth not ; where peace doth reign ; 
Nor storm of elements, nor raging fire, 
Nor tempest yet of hate can e'en bestir 
The calm the passions feel in such a clime! 
Most beautiful indeed! We'll rest us here. 



282 ALCYONE. 

Euros. Fair daughter of the Fret of Elements. 
Thyself was always calm and full of peace, 
Though born of changing JSolos and her 
Known else as Gloom — dark Achlys of the mist. 
And knowing thee as sunshine of the dark, 
I brought thee here that thou might'st so enjoy 
A smile of Nature like unto thyself. 
Here Zephyros and I are wont to come 
To while a pleasant hour, and to help 
The roses bloom : I blow the budding blossoms, 
Whilst he from eye-like calyxes doth sip 
The dew-drop tear! Chloris, his much belov'd, 
Is wont to loiter here for him to woo. 

Alcyone. Ah, Zephyros, I thought thou hadst a cause 
For coming here! 

Zephyros. Sweet mistress, such a cause 

I'm proud to own. Didst thou not teach me words 
Of love when that I wooed her in thy meads? 
Sweet patroness of love, I brought thee here, 
For not entirely free of jealousy 
Or pain or what the heart can trouble so 
Elsewhere within the world, is this fair clime. 
Within that wold the Garden is where grow 
The Golden Apples of celestial love, 
So planted by the queen of mighty Zeus. 
And these are guarded by a dragon fierce, 
Whose eyes stab like the Basilisk's, whose fangs 
Drop liquid poison on the things of life: 
And him the daughters of wild Night attend, 
Hesperides so called from their bright sire 
That twinkles in the twilight of the day. 
They tend the Garden and the Dragon there, 
Which Hera hath so posted in the fear 
Some one will steal the gift of mother Earth. 
Fear dwells in this Elysian home, forsooth, 
Though gods conspired to make it one of love! 



ALCYONE. 283 

[Enter Hesperides, singing.] 
Hesperides. We are the trusted maids of Hera grand; 
In high imperial favor here we stand ; 
When things of care divided are 
We maidens three find each a share, 
Because we here are joined in sacred band. 

The Dragon is our slave, and Methe, too; 
And many others quite as good and true, 

Who never shirk, but for us work 

Till shadows of the night do lurk 
Abroad to tell us rest and sleep is due. 

We hold the gift of love here on the earth; 

Our home is deemed a land of greatest worth. 
And days of ease we pass to please 
Ourselves, who know no thought's disease — 

And we have been so favored from our birth. 

Sing we, sing we, 
In joyous praise of all: 

Sing we, sing we, 
Let happy voice extol 
The virtue and the kindness of the gods, 
Of the gods, of the gods, of the great and mighty gods! 

J£gle. Come, sisters, look! can ye not see 
A white gull hovering over the sea? 
Its wings outspread, its beak raised high, 
As gazing in realms of the ethereal sky, 
Scorning the sun with his wild, fierce eye? 

Arethusa. Methinks it is a swan, its plumage white 
Sweeping the frothy waters of the sea. 
It moves! — it comes this way! A water sprite 
It is; lost, or seeking its destiny! 

Hespera. A sail! a sail! say I. 
A nautilos it is! 



284 ALCYONE. 

Its prow toward us is high : 
Its crew is Love, I wis! 

All. A sail! a sail! say we; 

Coming over the sea! 
What can it mean? Who can it be? 
We will meet and greet will we 
Friends who come from over the sea. 

vEgle. Hasten, sisters; quick! prepare 

Welcome for the strangers there! 

Arethusa. We must gather fruit and wine; 
They, perchance, may wish to dine! 
Hungry strangers often do — 
Methe, fetch some distilled dew. 

Hespera. I will meet them, I will greet them: 
Come, my sisters, let us go. 
To this sunny clime we'll bid them 
Welcome here upon our shore. 

All. We will meet them, we will greet them, 
Here on fair Hesperia's shore; 
We will welcome and receive them : 
Though we knew them not before. 

[Enter Ceyx attended by the fifty Nereides and the Sea Gods, 
Triton, Proteus, Glatjkos, and 2Egaeon, a monster having 
fifty heads and an hundred hands. ] 

Ceyx. Now by the eyes of glaring Argos I am glad 
To find my sisters here prepared to greet 
The unexpected strangers with good cheer 
And loving words. And look ye at the feast 
Of fruits and wines! So will the inner man 
Rejoice at such a welcome due to gods 
Alone. The waves have stirred the tongue of appetite, 
Which wags with sweet delight before the feast. 
Good greetings to you all, both sisters dear, 
And fair Hesperia's slaves. Come, ye Sea gods, 



ALCYONE. 285 

And fellow-voyagers of fairer mien, 

These are my sisters who before you stand: 

Mgl&, the proud, and Arethusa, meek, 

And shyer-eyed Hespera whose sweet voice 

Can wake deep slumbering love. And these, my dears, 

Are daughters of fair Doris and the Sea 

When it is calm: Nereides they're known 

The ocean o'er; and in their crystal cave 

In iEgaedn, the many island'd sea; 

They lull the angry waters into calm, 

And stir the hopes of sailors on the main. 

JSgle. Our hearts have bid you welcome and good cheer : 
Our tongues can say no more. Yet we rejoice 
In doing honor to the gods of sea, 
And maidens of its peaceful rest and love. 

Thetis. And in behalf of nymphs of Nereus, 
I do return thy welcome and will share 
Its pleasures here with thee. I oft have seen 
Your shores and marveled at their rich expanse 
Of fruit and vines, and reveled in the beauty 
Of its bright flowers rich in their perfume, 
Whose essence seemed meshed in the sunny bloom 
So mirrored in the quivering wave that swells 
My vast domain. Happy are we to meet 
The daughters of great Hesperos, and may 
A friendship so unite us evermore. 

Proteus. And in behalf of sea gods, let me say, 
That pleasure is full-tipped in meeting you: 
For oft have we conspired when on these seas 
Some ruse for ingress to your happy land 
Whereon we've caught fair pictures of yourselves, 
That urged our strong desires for bolder acts I 
Now we are here, and as we've reached the goal 
Of heart's desire, our wish and will are yours! 






286 ALCYONE. 

JEglb. Too much methinks, to claim them all at once! 
But, to the feast which Methe here has spread. 
Gay voyagers speak better when well fed. 

Ceyx. To the feast! To the feast! 
For hungry we are! 
We will dine: bring us wine! 
Like kings will we fare! 

The Hesperides. Draw around the festal board; 

Throw aside the things of strife; 
G-ive to Grief his bitter load; 

Let us taste the sweets of life, 
Unalloyed, unalloyed! 

The Sea Gods. We will eat and drink with you. 
We will join you in your mirth; 
And no laggard shall eschew 
Pleasure such as this is worth! 

Chorus. Bread of Demeter and fruit: 

Blood of Bacchus, — sparkling wine! 

Savory dish of luscious brute: 
All before us ; let us dine. 

Listen to the pleasing lute! 

Hear the clink, clink, clink? 

See decanters full of blood? 
Fill again and let us drink 

Health of all here in the wood! 
To the music of the clink, let us drink! 

Proteus. Faith, I see glories in the sky! 
Triton. And I see two-fold man in thee! 
Thetis. In sooth, it is within thine eye! 
vEgeon. And thou a changeful minx, I see! 

[ The Dragon roars. 
Ceyx. What? ho! 
Nereides. It is some fearful thing! 






ALCYONE. 287 

See! see! It comes! a hideous monster! 
Help! help! 

Hesperides. Fear not. We hold its sting. 

It is our slave, and here doth foster 
Peace and good care. He here doth guard 
The treasure that was love's reward 
When Hera joined with Zeus to wife: 
Unguarded such would stir up strife. 

Ceyx. But we are now for mirth and play! 
Go chain the beast, and let us join 
In dance within this shade to-day. 
We can not bear such sounds forlorn! 

Hesperides. Our will is thine, and we will see 
No harm befall our friends and thee. 
Ho! Dragon! back into thy lair! 
Go, Methe chain him there! 

Ceyx. Now call abroad the sylvan sprites. 
Let Pan and Satyrs join us here, 
And woodland nymphs, and every wight 
That frights or can bring cheer. 

Here in the shade o' this garland'd glade, 

Beside this babbling fount, 
Whose balmy breath comes ladened with 

The sweets of sunny mount, 
We'll trip to thee, Terpsichore, 

Join here our festive band, 
And let thy strain be heard again 

With reedy notes of Pan! 

[Enter Pan, the Satyrs <///</ Dryads, Naiads, Potamids, 

OCEANIDKS, etC, | 

Come, welcome all! Let joy recall 

Sweet pleasures of the youth! 
We mingle here and add our cheer 

TO put away all ruth. 



288 ALCYONE. 

Chorus. Music, music! sound sweet music! 
Chords of love and notes divine; 
Drown in harmony our senses, 

Draw us around thy sacred shrine — 
Steep us as with Bacchic wine! 

Let thy numbers speak in chorus; 

Temper well the wild heart's beat : 
Draw together anxious lovers, — 

Time the patter of their feet! 

Let the flying moments fleet! 

[ They dance, chasseing right and left. 

Females. Oh here we trip and dance: 
Touch now the golden lyre! 
Did nymphs before e'er prance 
As we while gods admire? 

Males. We're rough and shaggy sports 
To catch this nimble pace! 
But 'neath our rugged coats 

Are hearts that would embrace ; 
Embrace, embrace, embrace, — 
Are hearts that would embrace! 

STROPHE. 

Chorus. Peace sleeps in the wood, 

The mountain is fair; 
Not a cloud of the sky is pinacled there; 
And the birds in the trees sing of joy and love. 
And harmony dreams in bright regions above: 
While fountains soft whisper the tale here below, — 
All that the heart whispers or faith yet would know 

Of duty and good. 

antistrophe. 
Love sits in the shade. 
And here on the shore, 
We are drawn this bright Love to adore ; 



ALCYONE. 289 

And to notes of the birds we will tune our words, 
And with rapturous songs will implore 
Requital of all that he holds in his thrall; 
The trust that in faith should be paid. 

BPODE. 

To the right, to the left, 

Aside and before, 
We are dancing here on Hesperia ; s shore: 
In the sunshine of love, in no shadow of doubt, 
We see not a frown, we see not a pout 
On the face of our love ; nor is smile yet bereft 

Maid of the Ocean. 

The Nereides. O handsome youth and kind. 
What is this we find? 
Within the sparkling cave which we call home. 
Upon the swelling seas where we are known, 
Naught have we found so gay. 

Naught half so free, 
As tripping here to-day 
With Love and thee! 

We live within a spell 
Whose secret none can tell, 
Save first we felt it when we met with thee; 
And kindled now in transport can it be 
It waits upon thyself? 

By thee is fed? 
And if thou shouldst neglect, 
Will it be dead? 

Chorus. Oh! away with the dread, and away with the dream 
That would rob us of joy, that would love so bemean! 
We will live in love's smile, we will drink of love's cheer? 
We will listen to naught that will whisper of fear! 
We dance, we dance, we sing and we dance ; 
Our feet are as free as the moonbeams that prance 



290 ALCYONE. 

O'er hill-top and glade as they scamper at night, 
In chase of the shadows their light can affright! 

[Alcyone in a nook with the Wind Sprites.] 
Alcyone. A pretty youth I see joined with the nymphs i 
Who can he be? Now here I catch a glimpse 
Of what could make my heart so glad, 
Could it but know its wish! — I'm mad 
To reckon love I've never found! — 
The nymphs now gather him around! 

How happy they must feel to know 
Themselves the first within his heart! 
How naive and how coy that art, 

Which all their graces now would show! 
He shall not waste his sweetness all 

On daughters of the Sea! 
Go, Zephyros, on swiftest wings : 

Go kiss his cheek for me! 

Zephyros. Thy will is mine; 

I will obey. 
I will entwine 

With thongs to stay. 
His heart to thine 

This very day! 



I whisper of love. 
I playfully hum 

To the bees with the breeze. 

As I come, as I come! 
My breath with perfume 
Of the flower is lade, 
My lips have but sipped 

Of the violet's dew. 

My cheeks have the bloom 
That the lily has made, 
My wings they are tipped 

With the dye of the Yew! 



[ Goes. 






ALCYONE. 291 



As I come, as I come, 

Commissioned by Love; 
On the breeze, on the breeze, 

As a dreamy -eyed dove, 
In search of the bliss 

Love feels is its due: 
Here press I the kiss 

As my mistress would do. 



[Kisses Ceyx. 



Ceyx. Tis fire upon my brow! 

Desire within my heart 
Would never yet allow 

A sweetness to depart! 
Who now did press that kiss? 

Stay! See within the grove? — 
My sisters, how is this? 
Who hides in yonder cove? 

[ To Alcyone. 
Beautiful creature, why hidest thou 
Here in this bramble, beneath this low bough? 
Away from the pleasures thou couldst so well grace, 
When hearts were yet full but to look on thy face! 
And love ever ready to fall at thy feet ; 
Why here, linger here in this lonely retreat? 
Let me beg, let me beg that thou joinest in mirth, 
And add to our pleasures and pleasure's rare worth. 

For the favor, sweet favor thou pressed on my brow 
Through thy servant, the Wind, that was whisking 

[just now, 
Oh how can I thank thee, or hope to repay 
The kindness that threw me a kiss here to-day? 
Vouchsafe me a look! extend me a hand. 
And all that I hold is at thy command! 
Let me give, let me give to thee in return, 
That kiss that must else on my brow ever burn! 



292 ALCYONE. 

My heart-throbs quicken yet! 

O maid, wilt thou not let 

Me so return to thee 

The kiss thou gavest me? 
Come forth! come forth! no longer seek to hide. 
Come forth and let me stand thee at my side. 
Such charms as thou possesseth shouldst not lurk 
Behind a leafy screen ; nor shouldst thou shirk 
The duty of thy being, which is love! 
Come forth, come forth from out thy hidden cove. 

Alcyone. The lark is gay in youth; but I have heard 
Its gayety is gone when it hath met 

Him that can natter so that every word 
Is laid up in its soul to sharply whet 

An appetite for praise : — am I the bird 
To be cajoled with that I can not get? 

Ckyx. Thou canst have all an amorous soul may wish. 
If any part of it is this, myself! 
My heart is sure no thistle down to drift 
Upon the breeze and light where chance may will: 
Yet I confess that thou wert loved at sight, 
That all thy charms suffused me like a blush 
Whose coyness thawed the ice of outer mien 
And found sweet ingress to a slumbering soul 
To fire it up with hottest flames of love: 
Now all consuming;, if thou sootheth not! 
Come forth! come forth, sweet maid, and join us here. 
I would now tell thee how thou mastered me! 
How all the world is shadowed in the light 
Of thy fair self, that blushes as the morn; 
And how a throb of something kin to pain 
Disturbs the peace of loveless lassitude! 

Alcyone. If I do come, some one, I fear, will say, 
u 'Tis flattery leads her forth, poor foolish thing!"' 
And if I stay a prude I will be called 



ALCYONE. 293 

For so forsaking gayety of youth! 
And thus between the two I'll bid myself 
Decide; the weight of pleasure weigh 'gainst fear 
Of what the world may say: — so here am I! 
My foolish heart is restless with your words: 
So pray you cease ere such have started pain. 
Ceyx. Have started pain! Thou sunbeam of a heart, 
What wild conceit hath lodged within thy brain? 
Can love start pain? or did the mating yet of souls 
Beget a brood of ills? 

Berid thyself of such a thought, for it is false, 
Remember this: Thou art so beautiful 
It were a sin to hide thy charms from eyes 
That fain would feast upon that beauty's self! 
I do acknowledge thee my queen! Thine eye 
Hath flashed within my darkened soul a ray 
Of cheerful light, illumining the joys 
I never knew were there till I saw thee! 
Thy kiss was like a glowing wine of life, 
That from its chalice flashed as flame of fire, 
Hot with the love that starts the heart's desire. 
Now hast thou not another one to crown 
The enamoured soul thy first gat being? — Ye gods! 
Was beauty ever yet so full bestowed, 
Or mortal so enriched in favored guise? 
Her eyes are like the jewels of the sky 
That twinkle in the sombre dome of night 
When pale Selene wanes with crescent frown 
Within the west: Her hair is like the sunshine 
Meshed in strands of golden floss to light 
The glow upon her cheek, or hide the flash 
Of sunlit eye resplendent in its tear; 
Her form and features are the bloom of life 
In amorous mould and frolicking in health! 

Alcyone. I fear I have done wrong in coming here! 
I must be gone. I would not so have stirred 



294 ALCYONE, 

This rage of words, the sentiments I feel 
In answer, for the charms of Aphrodite 
Nor her winning grace! 

Ceyx. To whom hast thou done wrong? 

To me? Nay, then, 
If this be wrong, pray I for evil aye! 
For I had rather feel an ill like this, 
Than revel in the bliss of drowsy ease 
Where love and friendship hold no separate part. 
And joy is found insipid, lacking taste 
Of sharp divisions and extremer sweets! 
Disturb not, then, thy golden head with thoughts 
So drear, for thou canst do no wrong, my love! 

Alcyone. But I must go! 

Ceyx. Nay, but thou must not go! 

Thou shalt come here and join us in our dance. 
Now that I hold thy hands, and thou my heart, 
No power can deprive me of thyself 
Till I have taught the love, and how restore 
My own to me again! or, fitter meed, 
In love's requital so return to me 
Thine own; for I will cherish and regard 
The gift as sacred as the dole of life. 

Nereids. Fie! fie! He hath deserted us for one 
Whom we would scorn to think an equal here! 
A mortal and an earthly maid with scope 
Of life confined within a bound! A bloom 
That sooner yet will fade! What judgment rare! 

Proteus. But fair. 

Triton. Divinelv fair, I must declare: 

And heart, I wis, that's true — 

A Nereid. A brittle thing! 

Dust! dust! A thing to crumble in the hand 
Of Time ere plastic art hath moulded grace 



ALCYONE. 295 

To last, or Youth hath brought it to the bloom 
Of promise found in ripened womanhood! 
And we are bid adieu for such! 

Chorus of Nereides. Ye Gods! 

And our diviner graces are thus mocked 
And set aside for her! 

JEgaeon. There's reason here. 

Chorus of Nymphs. And we whom he called forth 
from sea and lea, 
And woodland grottoes, find ourselves despised! 
Our company neglected for a maid 
Begot of Storm and Gloom; who scampers out 
Within our sunny glades to steal a ray 
To lighten thus the darkness of her home! 

Hesperides. Our brother but invites. He will return 
And give his heart to those more worthy it. 

Nereides. He will? He may! Behold the youth and maid 
Engrossed within themselves ; oblivious of all 
The world save scope of each and bonds of love! 
We were his fellow-voyagers ; we brought 
Him here, guiding his craft in trusty waters, — 
Free pilots of the Deep, because so bid 
By duty and by love! And now we find 
We are repaid by treachery and scorn! 
Away with sentiment! let Hate preside! 

Satyrs. Bravo! bravo! 

Hesperides. But fairest nymphs — 

Chorus of Wood Nymphs. Bravo! 

Ye do but what our pride would bid us do. 

Nereides. We'll to the Nautilos and bid farewell 
To him that knoweth not the meed of worth. 

Hesperides. But ye, the gods of sea? 



296 ALCYONE. 

Chorus of Sea Gods. We came with them, 

With them we go; and in their rage we find 
Much reason, since we know the part they took 
In favoring this youth who lightly scorns. 

\_They go. 

[The Nereides and Sea Gods repair towards the ship; the other 
Nymphs, with the Satyrs and Pan, retire into the woods , 
singing. ] 

Satyrs. The way of love is strange; 

Its happiness an art: 
And boundless is its range, 
Though centered in the heart. 
A sweet, a bitter smart 
Together in its source lie close; 
The one awake, — 
But by turns the other stirs, of course, 
Some brittle bond to break, or heart-string quake! 

Ha! ha I Give us the cheer 

Of plainer friendship meek. 
Your love is all too drear 
For goal of what we seek! 
No jealousy can speak 
Of that for which our souls desire, 
Or tell the due 
God owes to life and its bursting fire, 
That gives a lively hue to fellowship and crew! 

Chorus op Nymphs. Love is scorned! love is scorned! 
Hate breaketh restraint ; 
The floodgates of Eage are wide for complaint! 
And Envy and Malice, and Jealousy, too, 
Await but the word of the envious crew 
To tear, tear, to tatter and tear! 

Earth Sprites. Let it come! let it come! Well await the 
Like the froth of the sea, they bubble and fret! [onset! 



ALCYONE. 297 

See the nymphs with their hair tangled, angry and wet, 
Arad the prow of their ship by the gods duly set? 
Away! away! let them speed, speed away! 

Hesperides. O brother, see what thou hast done ! The nymphs 
Of Ocean, angered now, are gone and left 
Thee to thy journey all alone. The Foul, 
May Nereus yet be known and not Serene, 
When he hath learnt how thou wouldst treat the love 
Of his fair daughters, whom e'en gods espouse 
As worthy their celestial homes and loves! 
Poseidon hath possessed himself of one ; 
And will he not offended be at thy 
Rank arrogance? Nay, may he not now heap 
Inflictions on thy head that shall bring low 
Its crown unto the dust? Thou purblind one, 
What hast thou done, led on by that frail thing 
That stands besides thee to entice thy ruin! 
Thy arrogance must fall! The gods decreed 
That such should never boost vain man of earth, 
Nor strengthen yet audacity of fool. 
As shade that flitteth by, thy chance of preferment is 
And thou art profitless, or worse, since that [past, 

Instead of gain of good, thy gain is ill, 
And venom is reward of unrequited love! 
Gro hence! we will not share thy company, 
Nor so incur the wrath we can not meet, 
By harboring thee and thine against the will 
Of those to anger roused! If thou canst love 
The creature at thy side more than the trust 
And honor of the gods, Nereides' love 
Or sisters care, take her and get thee gone! 

Ceyx. But, sisters dear - 
iEGLE. Enough! Go! 

Alcyone. Can not I, 

The cause of all, say something in defense? 






298 ALCYONE. 

Hesperides. Nay, nay! we will not prate; so get ye gone! 
We go to loose the Dragon now! Ill fairs it then 
With those upon these shores without our care! 
Farewell ; and bear remembrance hence of what 
Ye here deserved and what we meted you! 

[Exeunt Hesperides. 

[The Dragon roars. The Sea Gods shout with evil laughter -.} 

Ceyx. What shall we do? In vain to try combat 
A monster such as he!— But. let him come! 

Alcyone. Ah! noble Ceyx! Is this thy proof of love 
For me? this rash desertion of thy friends? 
And this more heedless plight of safety here 
Within the Dragon's teeth? And hadst thou rather brave 
The dangers now with me than join the Nymphs 
In yonder Nautilos where pleasures wait. 
And dangers can not come? 

Ceyx. And dost thou doubt, 

Fair one? I never knew more than the tale 
Of love, or its sick fancy's dream, till here 
I had met thee, thou sunbeam of my heart! 
And I had rather die in this transport 
Of love that now o'erflows my soul in tide 
Of fire, than to have lived forever in conceit 
Of that I never knew! Within the heart's 
Full joy the soul is brave, the will is quick, 
The arm is strong and ready to defend! 
I fear the Dragon not, though he had stings 
As countless and more deadly than the Hydra's, 
And each re-animating when so clipped 
As that fell monster's heads! Nay, though each head 
An hundred eyes contained as sleepless as the orbs 
Of Argos, fixed in vigil so! Let those 
Who are offended go: I have thee left! 
And though I meant no harm to them, nor less 
Esteemed their worth in loving thee, I must confess 



ALCYONE- 299 

That if to gain thy love I should give all 

A cause of rankest enmity, I would 

So set the world at naught in the exchange! 

Alcyone. I do not tempt thy love, dear Ceyx, nor faith ; 
I only speak to revel in the hot, 
Sweet declaration such calls forth from thee! 
Yet I am mortal, love, and my poor charms 
Will some day vanish like the flower's blush, 
To leave me withered up and faded sear; 
Whilst yonder "Nymphs in youthful freshness will 
Forever linger, blessing those around 
With bloom of life! Hast thou forgotten this? 

Ceyx. I, too, am mortal, daughter of the Wind. 
And it behooves me not while in this world 
To link with immortality, fios 
Did instance futile hope like this when that 
Her prayers Tithonos gave immortal life, 
Yet, too, the withering cares of age. Therefore 
I deem it wise to link with her I love, 
In that we are so suited each to each; 
To bloom alike or fade! Bethink thee now: 
That we were for each other born the Fates 
Have sure decreed ; for mark thee that our tastes 
Are like; we fall into a train of thought 
Inseparable, and we feel the need 
Of each to each. Therefore to leave thee, then, 
Were thwarting Love's intent and letting frost 
Of fear, for lack of will of hope, so blast 
The bloom of life. If we were not to love 
And mate, why met we so? and why the fling 
Of Eros that hath stung us both? Urge me 
No more to leave thy side! Persuasion hath 
Its force, but never yet stood such between 
The union of two souls that truly loved. 

Alcyone. Thou mayst regret thy choice 1 . 



300 ALCYONE. 

Ceyx. That day will do 

For all complaint. But see! The Dragon is 
Unloosed! He comes! He roars as full of hate! 
Go! hie thee hence, whilst I engage the beast! 
He shall not harm my love! 

Alcyone. Thou shall not fall 

A victim to the Dragon's fangs! For in 
A contest thou alone art vulnerable. 
Since Fate has so decreed that none save Herakles 
Shall overcome the beast. If thou art killed 
What will thy Alcyone do? Or how can she 
Console herself when so bereft? Forbear! 
Firm thou mayst feel, and lookest so in mien. 
That bids defiance to thine enemies! 
But this can not — must never be! Nay! nay! 
Thy prowess here is little use to me, 
Save but to show the face of valiancy! 
Hast thou forgotten now my slaves, the Winds? 
Then surely thou knoweth naught of them; the force 
They do control; the realm in which they move! 

Come, Zephyros, gay! 
Come. Euros, light! 
Bring swiftest wings for airy flight 
Away, away! 

The Dragon roars! 
His chains are off! 
He comes with death! Bear us aloft — 
He roars! he roars! 

O yonder crag 
Of lofty rock. 
We can withstand his frightful shock. 
Pray do not lag! 

Let hammock bear 
Us two to-day: 
This youth we'll help upon his way — 



ALCYONE. 301 

Our safety share! 

Be quick! The Brute 
Is at our heels! — 
Farewell! — I wonder how he feels? 
His tongue is mute! 

[ The Winds Euros and Zephyros, seize on a hammock of grasses, 
and placing Ceyx and Alcyone thereon, bear them to the lofty 
crag.] 

Come! slaves, again; 
Nor tarry thus: 
Go roll yon silvery cloud to us, — 
We're safer then. 

For in its fold 
We would so ride 
Upon thy ocean's billowy tide, 
To father's wold. 

Zephyros and Euros. We go, dear mistress, to do thy will. 
Yon fleecy Nephele we'll fill 

With all our breath! 
Be thou and thine all cheerful here; 
We'll roll the silvery Chariot near, 
And thwart old Death! 
[ They go circling through the air toward the cloud. 

Ceyx. We gaze upon the world with vision clear! 
How changed the phase of life when all aloof 
One so beholds the things that there disturbed! 
Like pigmies frightened, or swift moving ants, 
The creatures of the sphere are here and there 
In quick succession, and the motive dark 
That so incites them to each act and move. 
Pear is the prompter of the human heart, 
And epileptic are his fits to eyes 
Which know him not! and Rage would counterfeit 
His acts, if we may judge from those below! 






302 ALCYONE. 

The Nymphs and Sea Gods dance upon the deck 
Of my swift Nautilos, the faces of them all 
Upturned in hatred to its master here! 
Awhile ago I deemed them friends, and sat 
Within their midst, and stroked the hair that now 
Is tangled by the fingers that would clutch 
My throat! Swift is the smile of friendship and 
The grasp of love! — And then my sisters, too! 
Hesperides, may I disown ye hence, 
Who have a brother's love cast to the winds 
To favor enemies of him and you! 

Alcyone. Oh turn thine eyes about; 
Look to my slaves. 
I hear their cheerful shout:— 
Behold the waves! 

Like Titans full of strength, 

With breath so strong, 
They sweep the Cloud's full length: 

It moves along! 

They come! they come! The} 7 lift 

On shoulders broad; 
And undulations swift 

Of air accord. 

O Nephos, brother dear. 

Lend us thy car, 
And from this land so drear 

We'll journey far. 

Sea God {from beneath). What power is that? 

Nereid. T is iEolos' true! 

Sea God. No just fiat would aid the two! 

Amphitrite. Consort if I e'er shall be 
To Poseidon of the wave, 



ALCYONE. 303 

He shall hearken to my plea : 

Wreck the god that would them save! 

All. Lock within his gloomy cave 

Father of this scornful maid! 
Teach the Youth what friendship gave! 
Scorn of love is so repaid! 

Hesperides. Most wonderful of things yet seen ; 
The Dragon in his wrath defied! 
What can the Powers above now mean? 
The guilty youths are not denied 
Means of escape, means of escape! 

[Zephyros and Euros roll up the cloud chariot.^ 
Zephyros and Euros. We have rolled to thee the chariot , 
Within its downy fold [see? 

A place of rest, an eyrie nest 
For thee and thine so bold. 

Now mount the cloud, and in its shroud, — 

Which is not one of death! 
Wrapt hearts so dear, all filled with cheer, 

We'll waft you on our breath! 

Ceyx and Alcyone (mounting the chariot). 

To the land away, so bright and gay, 

We'll set our sail to drift ; 
And so farewell, Hesperia's dell: 
We thank thee for thy gift! 

Swiftly though gently through the ambient sky, 
We sail as the swallow that skims the clear lake; 

The isles of the sea as in glee flitting by : 
The shores of Hesperia lie now in our wake! 

The sunbeams that glint from our cumulose mass, 
In rays thousand hued, iridescent are cast! 

Like a jewel we shine, and the light, as we pass, 
Illumines the world with a glory to last! 



MM ALCYONE. 

Before us th i heavens j le's 

Disci :-:~^ -he blush o£ the ireamy-eyed Morn: 
o-h;z^ os the curtains are drawing, and | 

Are the shadows that lurk stas thai y&wn. 

Sk die all remem rax s the Eair land 

Axenie and false, in professions so fc 
We fain would forget and our heart and our hand 
Would help fcc sontbat faitl - eveey care. 

WisT'S. As o'er the seas we roam. 

With boundless range. 
We — "_-.-; y the waves to Eoai 

Ffc riv sf secfa is s1 n ng 
W~ like 1 hear the roar 

Of pain and gri-r: 
S nnetimes their sj k is n v 
A story briei 
Is whispered lo~ is -r.ispered km 

Of wrecks and re :ks and shoals. 

tarybdis ind Scylla 
0:1 -. "" -: : v,l: r - : u'.- 

Beneath the waves so far. 
Where feed the fishes foul, 
And serpents are; 
Si inn's and Temj est's s 
~~'-- ?-n* them there. — 
The - - 1c how] the waves lo howi! 

One ire had heard so oft — 

But shall we tell? 
Why sh mid — - h ear aloft 

And break the spell 
Of rapture such as this. 

With tale sc low? 
Break not such perfect b sc 

Let rumor go! 
The chance we miss' The chance wp miss! 






ALCYONE- 305 

Alcyone. What mean ye slaves? What dark report 
Hangs guiltily upon your lisping tongues? 

A Voice. The Breath is subtile, fine! 

The Breath is substance of thy servant there! 

It fills creation; it wraps the Boundless 

In its breezy folds! 'T is one of the Four: 

The All Encompasser ! 

It whispers secrets ; yet none can tell 

A story told! 

And none can doubt! 

Its bosom swells with each report. 

And on its breath the ear depends : 

Yet who will call it blab? 

Though prate it does of every ill and joy, 

Sweet harmony becomes it best. 

Slander is fellow, too, as well as Praise; 

And, likewise, Lie and Truth! 

Another Voice. Oh, listen, listen, 
To the tale of Wissen ; 
Watch not the glisten 

Of the Ocean wave! 
The Truth is hollow, 
And the Lie doth follow 
In the train of Choler 

To the end the grave! 

Echo. In the sacred dell lives my voice to tell 
In sad reverberations of its wrong: 

As a sounding bell tolling now a kne 11, 
O listen to my doleful words and song. 

Nar-ci-o! Nar-ci-o! Gull-like are my words! 
Awake the foolish youth to know that like the soaring birds. 
Will my tale be e'er borne, 
Upward till his heart of scorn 
By repentence sore is torn! 



306 ALCYONE. 

A Voice. Narcissos was a foolish youth, 
Knowing naught of ill or ruth, 
Learning but this little truth: 

Vanity must die! 
In the wave he found his love! 
Strayed he in the woodland cove! 
Now alone the turtle-dove 

Heaves a parting sigh! 

Echo {?aore sadly). Youth of the Lily born, 

Why wilt thou scorn 
Her who doth love thee more than words can tell? — can tell! 

How canst thou be so tart? 

Hast thou a heart? 
Oh! love me! love me! for I love thee well! — thee well! 

A seer hath said of thee: 

"A dreadful thing will be 

When he himself shall see!" — 
Remember! remember! remember well! 

Since first I saw thee, love, 

In woodland cove, 
Where thou the horny stags would thence impel — impel! 

My love so boundless grew, 

My spirit flew 
To thee in quest of what my heart would tell? — would tell\ 

That spirit deep is wrung; 

My gayest words are sung! 

Daughter of Air and Tongue, 
Remember! remember! remember well! 

A limpid brook I see! — 

Beside it we: 
Thou smiling on thy shadow, I in tears! — in tears! 

"Alas!" thou criest in fear; 

I, j&cho, near, 
And waters sweep away all that so cheers! — so sheers! 

Thou reacheth out to seize — 



ALCY01SE. 307 

The shadow quickly flees! 
And bears the passing breeze, 
"Remember! remember! till silence hears!" 

When Naiads come for thee, 

Beneath yon tree 
They'll find alone a flower faded dim! — -faded dim! 

Thyself will be a weed! 

Predestined meed 
Of arrogance and love that is a whim — a whim ! 

No tears can then allay 

The grief that sisters may 

Feel for thee on that day! 
Remember! remember that Fate is grim! 

Alcyone. O Ceyx, what means the outcry we have heard? 
Who bore the love? and who the scornful Youth 
That let a trusting soul so pine away? 
Meth ought that love would conquer every thing! 

Ceyx. Love is a god, yet passion rules him much; 
And Vanity is able to hoodwink 
E'en Wisdom's self, when that the eye hath caught 
Its fair repose, or ear hath heard the speech 
Of Flattery unseasoned by the truth. 
The story briefly is: A foolish nymph, 
Whose voice was wonder of the cove and dell, 
Became enamored of a handsome youth, . 
Whom Flattery had led within her way 
In search of pool to glass his image in. 
He hung above the limpid waters, there 
Bestowing all the love his nature gave, — 
So sparse it was of what is good in life. 
And what is sweet beyond a sordid self! 
She hung about him, catching every sigh 
He heaved in his self-craze, returning each 
With cooing music of her own desires ; 
The which awakened deeper passion then 



- 



AI TONE 



join each heart: he, hearing in her voice 

7. -■■ : - . - : :' jr'.ii: . : ■ - ns :: ; :_ : i - - - -■■- 
Snf :ii' smii iizpflfssuess iii «::r:;::r: live! 
In transport fell he in the waves to drown! 
Her voice now wanders o'er the earth — - _ 
A weed doth stand in memory of both, 
Narcissos is it called, narcotic too. 
Its essence, which would tell ns yet this truth: 
?: :r "in -v - c .:_•;::'- ^ni i:s — :r:u 
iz 11 - iniuug :•: i: -izzzzj "liif 

r :r >"t^:>: Sir — is inim:::^.. ::•: 



. _. 



g ~:ris thai men may utter here! 
true? 
i : Zeus tells us not. my sweet. 

;r:iis :-ii : u: guess i: hrjv-rn - _ ... 
Suuniiru: —is :"-e :V.e :: lis fserres 

_ i - ~ i : u i c "^ ii i : ; i ~ t s : : i : n '? 

A i :v: ve I i : - : : '*=. : 

I can not answez that without i fear 

. : =- r-_":i; _ . \-Z ::: :u:ugi ir ~is s: ~ 
In sell ." seems i uiiT s:iV. 



Citfx. 


:u iiires: 


N . :'a:r ikf - linn- 171 is ii: 


: ■■ r i in i: _: : 


Aici -ijiii sir 5 ::r- zoning — : 


i: i:-e: 


i I : ii. n:: :e'_- — Mt .:~~t : 


rgiTr -f I 


; - _i.i. :i- .i:ii-: :.:. 


:ir;i:s ~i? s 


.1-. i..-^ us_iiTSr:: -:i LVi: 


life 



Yr g>is I ^:_ii z:: 
- - r :; : .f r surf 



:: :ii ir-:: f.rs 

: — :iii I i:-' r 
: :.:... _ t :ief 
i: ; : r_ :: :':.: _gi 

ome thing of earth! 

ink :: lie 



ALCYONE. 309 

In dumb abstraction 'mong the peaceful clods 
Of earth, than so bestir the sleep of death 
With human hate and its most vile unrest. 

Ceyx. Thou hast no ground for fear, and shall not have; 
For truer never lover was to love 
Than I to thee! 

Alcyone. 'Tis gone, — the shadow is! 

Twas but a passing thing, of substance bare; 
With force alone to give poor doubt unrest, — 
Which hardly yet can realize the bliss 
Thy love bestows, and why its halting here! 
But look! See yonder, rising in the east 
Above the waters blue, that glinting crest 
Which shines as day-star to the ocean round? 
It is my father's kingdom, and the home 
Of peace and love. Those lofty mountains there, 
Bright capped with snow, but screen and softly light 
The gardens at their feet, — where thou and I 
Will roam in mutual peace! Their solitude 
I know, and often have I wandered there 
Alone, then dreaming of my future love — 
And thou art he! 

<Jeyx. And I will fill those paths 

With company thou canst not shake! Will bask 
Within the sunshine of the day, and the soft light 
Of thy more glorious eyes, which far outhue 
The flowers of the meads, however gay 
And richly dressed! Together we shall pass 
The change of Time, e'en catching his swift flight, 
Sans his old age, sans death or love's decay! 

[Exeunt. 

Scene II. — The Wind God's kingdom. Mountains and Dells, 
with Castle in the distance. Enter Ceyx and Alcyone with jEolos 
and his train. 



310 ALCYONE. 

jEqlos. Where hast thou been, my daughter? Welcome 
My heart misgives me when thou art away, [home! 

Though guarded by my slaves ; for thou art light 
To mine old heart and comfort of mine age. 

Alcyone. Dear father. I do give thee much distress 
With my wild acts ; yet youthful is my heart, 
And new mine eyes which much can find to see. 
Forgive it me and take me to thy heart : — 
And open too, a chamber there for this, 
My love — brave Ceyx, son of Hesperos! 

jEolos. And thou has stolen heart of my sweet child! 
How lone thy father is to think of this! 
Yet it must come thus soon or late, for thou 
Art mortal, daughter mine, though parents know 
No, disembodying time; and thou shouldst taste 
The bliss of sweet companionship and love, 
Which parents can not give. Welcome, my son. 
Though thou hast raped my fold of fairest lamb 
That gamboled in its range! Bright Hesperos 
Is friend. Thrice welcome now his son and mine! 
What concourse of wide verging streams hath brought 
Your loves together in such mutual bliss? 






Ceyx. My home is to the east. My lands lie where 
The roaring waves of the iEgean sea 
Leap and befroth the cliffs. My mission west. 
Was there to warn old Atlas of a bold, 
Ingenious man, born to subdue the world. 
Eurystheus, the vile, sent Herakles, 
Whom Fate made him obey, upon a trip 
Of rape and devastation, and the point 
Was garden of Hesperia, whose fruit 
The base king wished, though such are pledged and 
For gods alone,— the taste too fatal here [grow 

To mortals of this earth. I was to warn 
Old Atlas and inform Hesperides, 



ALCYONE. 311 

My sisters, to be ever on their guard 

And keep the Dragon well in train. I met 

Thy daughter there: my mission was forgot! 

I now remember only that the wrath 

Of sisters and of Ocean nymphs forbade 

My further stay! Thy daughter and her Winds 

Rescued and brought me here. 

Alcyone. I and thy slaves 

Had wandered there — they bearing me aloft 
To scan the beauties of the world. I saw 
The peril of this youth ; my heart spoke deep 
For him whom anger of the sea gods would 
Have torn and left to die upon the sand, 
Abetted in the act by vile Nereides! 

iEoLOS. Ha! Ha! I see the drift! 'T was jealousy! 
The sea nymphs were susceptible to looks. 
But come! my castle is at hand; we'll there 
Enjoy the hour as though no ill had tried 
To brook the pleasure of life's peaceful course. 

[ He leads the way to the castle. 

Ceyx. What art has been at work? The castle stands 
Within a grotto, bosomed as a nest 
Within the lofty mountains whose great arms 
Encircled it about, the giant trees 
To bob and bough it from above: a stretch 
Of main thence sloping to the restless sea, 
Flecked either side with flowers rich in hue. 
Great fountains, cataracts, and purling rills, 
Here bubble bright, and flash and shoot athwart 
The vale their rainbow darts, so cooling now 
The heated atmosphere with vaper breath! 
The castle would outmarvei Wonder's self! 
Huge alabaster columns, cloud-like domes 
High piled and then repiled in orderly 
Confusion! Towers, turrets, pinnacles of snow, 



B12 ALCYONE. 

Stalagmites 0- high HrSVri'; nnritv 

Dropped crystal here below! a palace - 

Of ice and snow thai sways as airy not': a 

Thin. fleecv :loucs ell ranote'ing i~s walls 
Winds romp =mc in its :: rri :l:>rs. 

And in 1 eir play I catch the voice »f s 

Wnro Sprite . Here lives the 2v 
The slaving tre- - 
When Summer's heat is -. 

Doth Sriz - :■: tan 
7 ■ r haunts o£ Pern 

llend home. 

In langui 

I stir tc ulease 
And cool the heated br 
While sort I play 
On harps that say. 

The words o: love. I trow. 

In Spring my bl. si 
Joes rushing st — 
Bright buds I open then 
And showers bring, 

Of happy heurs again. 

In Autumn still 

I help to fill 
lite garners o: the wis- 

I am T n- fri en i 

That sails attend — 
Etesian none despise! 

When Winter's : 
From hoary wold 
Doth stalk to bite and freeze. 



ALCYONE. 313 

Old Boreas 
From icy pass 
Doth come to join my breeze! 

No paradise 

Would man suffice 
Without my cooling breath. 

But blast I can 

Both earth and man 
And blow all things to death! 

JSolos. The Wind is blithe and singeth merry notes; 
My spacious corridors like unto throats 
Of song birds, as its mazy windings give 
Variety in warbles of sweet harmony. 
But look upon the portal; see my slaves 
In willing readiness for all commands ! 
And those who stand with stamp of royal mien, 
Are children of my loins and dark Achlys, 
Who, in yon darker antre, broods with death. 
Clauthmon and Claumone thou must not heed, 
For fretful were they born, — the types of tears! 
Come, Nephos of the flying garb! come fetch 
Thy slaves, and bid thy brother welcome here! 
For brother he must be, or else our fold 
Is robbed of all its light! Thy sister here 
Is now betrothed to him. Back, Notos! hence! 
Or bring a kindlier face with thee! Where is 
Old Boreas? 

Boreas. O Changeable, 't is here 

I stand beside and ready for thy word. 

JColos. Bid all thy fellows come to welcome home 
Fair Alcyone and her love. 

Notos. Welcome, 

Fair mistress; I am pleased with thee and thine! 



314 ALCYONE. 

Boreas. Thou wilt have consort worthy any love: 
For I have seen his peoples and his lands, 
And know whereof he comes ; what blood doth course 
His veins: and thereby gods may swear; for pure 
And from descent of Zeus it flows! 

Nephos. Well said 

My hoary friend, for Hesperos doth boast 
His lineage. Xow let me add a word. 
My new found brother, to the welcome spoke. 
My sister is the life of this our home: 
Thrice welcome then is any one she loves. 
Though naught within himself inspired a worth. 
But thou art worthy, and thy cheer will add 
To brighten with her smile the hearts around. 

Ceyx. I am too full for words: upon thy breast 
I best could sob it out! To have her love 
Is bliss unspeakable; then add to that 
The welcome I receive — my heart misgives 

Me sure; or else sweet pleasure's well is all 
Unfathomable! 

Alcyone. "Tis true, my Ceyx. true! 

My people welcome and my slaves give cheer. 
And thou no more shall hear the cry of hate. 
Or see the sneers of mocking enemies. 

JSolos. My daughter, right! Here Achlys, add thy word 
In consummation of thy daughter's happiness. 

Achlys. In Heaven's scowl I live: naught can I give 
In cheer to that which now is bright and light! 
My gloom is soul of mist, my whole is gist 

Of elements that blight. — that blight and bite! 

How can I give good cheer when all too drear 
My nature and my heart do throb and smart? 

Let others welcome him. It is my whim 
To play this darker part and hide my heart! 



ALCYONE. 315 

JSolos. Away with thee! Hide in thy antre dark! 
Let winds of misery whine wails within thine ears, 
And storm sprites spit their grief upon thy head! 
Clauthmon, come! Claumone, speak what thy heart 
Suggests to thee. 

Claumone. Weeping, weeping o'er such bliss; 
Daughter am I of Achlys! 
Who can welcome with good cheer 
Whilst our mother weeps so near? 

Clauthmon. Let the youths remember this : 
'Tis the household of Achlys! 
Would they turn the mother out? 
Drown her cries with laughter, shout? 

^Iolos. Go join thy mother! add unto her wails! 
Dominion here is mine, and love is guest! — 
Ho, slaves and caterers! a feast, a feast! 
Throw wide the banquet hall and deck its sides 
With garlands that poor art must needs despair. 
Let ceilings sparkle with the gems of Night 
Resplendent with the dreamy rays of morn ; 
Let candelebra blaze the noon-day sun : 
Reverse the clepsydras and halt old Time! 
A feast, a feast! a royal feast for all! 

[Exeunt. 

Scene III. — In the Castle's Garden. Enter jEolos. 

^Eolos. My daughter loves and is beloved. I know 
Not what to say. He's worthy, but my loss 
Doth bother me. Stay! Why my loss? What need 
For any loss? They are my children both, 
And will with me abide. — 'T is settled thus! — 
Descendant now of Zeus to wed my child, 
Well honoring, too, his parentage — 't is well! 
I would have chosen such a mate for her, 
So deeming it her due. Alliance thus 



316 ALCYONE. 

With Zeus by mating his with mine is strong, 
And some day I may need the strength. All good! 
The Fates do favor me! And then, again, 
The kingdom of proud Hesperos will thus 
Be joined to mine, when Wind and Stars will seek 
Like destinies; be moved to mutual ends! 
Again *t is well! This sunny child of mine 
Is wise of choice. Could I have mated her 
As well if choice were left to me? 'T is full 
As well at least. But then Nereides 
Are angry, I am told, and Nereus 
Hath broken now his calm (which irksome was 
To me), and hence will ruffle seas with hate. 
E'en to the pitch of wrath he's moved, I hear. 
Ha! ha! "Serene" is "Foul" and Love is prod! 
So Jealously is stronger then than Love, 
And can incite the feebler one to arms! 
Ha! ha! But what care I? or why should such 
Disturb their youthful hearts? 'T is poverty 
Indeed that finds no enemy. Poh! pshaw! 
Can not I sweep the Ocean with my Winds? 
E'en drown old Stupid and his daughters there 
Beneath his own wild waves? He hath no force, 
The old gray-beard, and dotes upon his calm! 
Let him enjoy it and so then hold his peace. 
Poseidon hath espoused one of his maids, — 
But great Poseidon now would scorn to help 
A king who helps divide his Ocean realm. 
Nereides would Ceyx now espouse! 
Let them consort with others, not with him 
My daughter loves. — Ha! ha! I'm young again 
In this affection of my child! Make haste 
The nuptials! — But Achlys — Why her gloom? — 
Away with doubts: the day is full of light. 
[He wanders to a grotto in the woods; a Sibyl appears.] 
Sibylla. Ho, iEolos! I would a word with thee. 



ALCYONE- 317 

jEolos. Who calls? and what imports? Speak yet again. 

Sibylla. King iEolos, thou art a god, and I 
A faded mortal, despicable so 
Within myself; yet thus it was decreed 
That I should have god-prophesying tongue! 
And I can tell thee now that which 't were best 
That thou shouldst know, if thou wilt lend thine ear. 

iEoLOS. Speak, hag; thou hast mine ear. But yet be 
For pleasures wait upon my qiiick return, [brief, 

And jocund Love would bid me so make haste 
To join his feast and cheer. What now forbodes? 

Sibylla. Thy mind dwells then upon thy daughter's lot: 
The fortunes of thy Alcyone and her love? 

jEolos. What hast thou, hag, to say of them? 

Sibylla. Hist ! — This : 

Thou seest not the end, nor yet beginning here! 
Prevent their union. Much may such avert. 
Now listen sharp, thou king of Winds and Storms : 
I speak no prattle, and my tongue is true. 
Bedimmed thou mayst think my sight, but eye 
Was never clearer in prophetic range ; 
And this much I see plainly: Yes, the youths 
x\re noble born; all will this grant. From loins 
Of gods e'en are they both descended here — 
One from the All Supreme, and one from thee, 
Who claims a like descent. But know and heed: 
The course of their love-wedded lives will not 
Run rippleless; nay, will not so smoothly glide 
As the least concerned might wish! The silvery stream 
Doth glide through sandy channels meeting naught 
To mar its gentle flow; so doth a perfect life. 
But others like some angry torrent, mountain pent, 
Whose bed is midst the rocks and clefts of nature's rug- 
Do flood and bubble, hiss and foam and leap [gedness, 



318 ALCYONE. 

The barriers of hate in cataracts 

Of froth and trouble, marking thus the ebb 

Of life, and madly rushing on to death! 

I fear me so will thine! Thou art a god. 

But they are only mortals: semblant gods! 

Then, linkest thou the destinies of Peace 

And Storm? and hopes t thou from such a union calm? 

Take heed, O king! I tell thee too beware! 

jEolos. Say, art thou done, thou bodeful hag? Thy speech 
Comes glibly and thy tongue seems oiled with ruth. 
But thinkest thou that I am dolt and blind, 
And can not see as much of this as thou? 
Conceited wisdom maketh fools. The fool 
Hath ears for every wild report, sees fate 
In every falling leaf, hears wise prognos 
From winds that sigh among the leafless trees ; 
Disturbs his peace and slumber with the ghost 
Of thought, the lie of restless dreams, the cant 
Of noisy tongues that cackle magpies deaf! 
G-ive me no more the terror of thy thoughts, 
The vain unprofitable speech of fear 
That widly guesses in its reason's fright. 
When did it come that gods decreed should know 
Less then the mortals they create of earth? 

Sibylla. They do not, mighty king, save when the Fates, 
Whose set decrees all feel, decree it so! 
Thus mortals may here see what gods can not; 
E'en things which may them wreck. Too long with me 
Hath second-sight now been to so mistake 
Portends, or fail to note the tide that onward sweeps 
To misery and death. I am no fool, 
And thou art wrapt in thy conceit and feareth 
Truth, which feigns not, though gloom of night may 
The place of day and drown the rays of hope [take 

Within the blackened depths of wild despair! 



ALCYONE. 319 

I could now tell to thee what all I see 

In future for thy child. The fret and sting, 

The pain and death — but thou wilt give no ear! 

Nor will I further so distress the god 

Who does not seek to know! Again, beware! 

JEolos. Hag, pain and death and frets and sting of ills, 
Are lot of every life begot of earth, 
And whoso is here born expects the due 
Existence so entails! The fool would hug 
In his delusion such exemption here 
As would his fancy please, not knowing dull 
Inanity is sum of such reward. 
For pleasure is by contrast and sweet bliss 
Is but the resting of a weary soul. 
If thou couldst see so much with thy probe eyes, 
Thou had seen this; and further, that I will 
No warning take of thee, and that my child 
Will wed. Why warn me further then? 

Sibylla. In truth, 

But to relieve my conscience, mighty king. 
Forewarned the fault is thine, not mine. 

JDolos. Enough! 

Now get thee to thy cave. I do not care 
For boding shadows of a mind distraught. 
Life is too full of evils that are real, 
Of pangs that stir the lips to anguish wails 
That well nigh ears of sympathy confound 
In rendering deeds of mercy. Wherefore crowd 
Imagined ills upon the real? drown voice 
Of need with cry of puling cowardice? 

Sibylla. I have performed my duty : heed me not, 
Or heed me as thou wilt. If thou defiest 
The Fates, thou wilt do more than all the gods 
Have done. Save then the youths — they need thy aid! 
Though light of heart, too gloomy is their way. 

[Exit. 



320 ALCYONE. 

JHolos. The fool would frighten me! 

A Voice. Ho. d&olos 

Jiolos. Whence comes the voice? Who calls? 

The Voice. Come to the sea. 

We would a word with fct 

iEabOS. Well, here am I. 

But nothing can I see but lusty waves 
That beat my rocky shores, as wild and wroth 
As foolish man wL ^se temper is unloosed 
In passion's ire. 

Who spake? Ye gulls, sweeping ran's wav^« 

Below and heaven's stormy brink above — 
Say. was it ye who called to me? Eaise then 
Your voice above the roar of seas and speak 
Again. The Sibyl hath prepared me 
The ominous cries of anv lving tongue 
That speaks distempers to the faith of man! 

~_A trumpet blows 
A trumpet, sure. I hear! Then it was not 
A gull, or yet the waves that called to me! 
Is Triton near? Who holds his wreathed horn? 
I catch the sound of dolphin's splash! I see 
A bubble floating there which may be he: 
Sea-horses, too. and chariots built of shells. 
All plunging in the froth! Hey. Proteus 9 
What would ye on my coast? 

Proteus. We come with tidings that conccrneth thee. 






^Eolos. What tidings can ye bring of worth to him 
Ye have abused? Your falseness is most base 
And bare to me! and friendship which ye broke 
So gaps between us here, that ere re-bridged. 
Must hear apology in full for all 

The cause of breach. What meant vour rage against 
My daughter and her love? 









ALCYONE. 321 

Proteus. Another time 

For that. I'm come to speak of other things : 
To now demand for Nereus, benign 
And justest god of sea, that thou return'st 
To him his due ; and grantest not to son 
Of Hesperos thy hospitality. 

Molos. Such mission is in vain. Why should I heed 
The whimpers of some dotage? G-o and tell 
The Grizzle Beard I owe him naught, and am 
In humor to repay in full. The youth 
Is guest of mine, and never yet have I 
Abused the name of host. 
Is this Hesperia? And do ye think 
Your foolish whims can turn me, God of Winds, 
As they did silly maids of Hesperos, 
To do a thing discreditable, base, 
Unworthy name of sister, or of slave? 

Proteus. My tongue knows not the speech apology 
Would make; nor came I here to hear abuse. 
Good Nereus hath a grief, which thou canst heal: 
Thou wilt no balm apply? So be it then! 
Poseidon will make known his wrath; for such 
Thou hast incurred. What the Supreme can do, 
Thou best shouldst know. 

JLolos. I fear it not ; and I 

Say now to thee: No longer care I to converse 
With vassals yet of either king! So get 
Ye hence and stir their wrath to highest pitch, 
Till like a frothy wave of their own realm, 
They burst to scatter all their rage in mist 
Of foam, or tears, bedewing their own breasts! 
To you I'll speak no more. [Exit. 

Triton. Say, vassals we? 

Proteus He calls us vassals, but he knoweth not 
The strength of all our arms. 'Tis easy now 



322 



ALCYONE. 



To anger and the fool is quick to flout, 

Unheeding so the value of a friend. 

The wise will weigh the cost of every word, 

And calculate the ills it takes to mend 

The breaches made by every ranting lout! [Exeunt. 

Scene iv. — Within a boughed Grove, near an Open Temple. 

Chloris {in bough, singing). 

My love sat under a hollen tree, 

Singing songs to me; 
My love was as gay as gay could be, 

And I was joyous, free. 

My love did then so gently woo, 
Filling my head with words ; 

His promises are yet to do, — 
Sung he as the birds? 

Zephyros (stealing in behind). 

My love was a little doubting love, 

Taunting her lover true! 
Now nestling as a turtle-dove, 
Bristling now with rue! 

Chloris. I did not doubt thy love, sweetheart! 

Zephyros. Thy song belied thee then! 

Chloris. Ah, thou shouldst learn poor woman's art — 

Zephyros. 'Tis free of riddles — when? 

[Enter a Wood Nymph, singing. ,] 
Nymph. Brightly broke the morning's ray; 

Fairer never shone the day: 
Good precursor of the fate 
Of my mistress and her mate, 
Who do join their lives to-night. 
May their paths be ever bright! 

[Enter iEoLOS.] 
2E0LOS. Tis come! The day was fair, and silently 



ALCYONE. 323 

The night hath crept upon it unawares, 

Flinging its sable folds about the blushing light, 

Kissing the rosy cheek till pale it dies, 

And darkness all alone remains. 

There stands the temple; there the altar spread 

With offerings to the gods, and sacred fumes 

Do float upon the air. All now but wait 

The coming of the guests, the nuptial feast. — 

The adytum is closed! What doth this mean? 

And where is Hesperos, and Atlas, too, 

And all the gods Olympus should send out 

To grace a marriage feast? And Hymen, where? 

Now surely word was borne to them! Then why 

Their absence or delay in coming here? 

Not e'en Ganymedes serves the feast! 

Some ominous things I've seen this day! 

I like it not! 

[Enter Eros.] 
Eros. The youths are ready and impatient grown. 
Shall bid them come? 

JEolos. Come? That doth fill my soul 

With gruesome thoughts! Come, say est thou? Where 
The guests? Seest here the likeness of a god? [are 

Come? Where is Hymen and the choir of love? 
Who else alone of all the gods can wed 
Two lives in perfect bliss? is given grace 
To bind in holiness the loves of man? 
Come? Wait! Away with love's impatience! 
Let Heaven's set decree be known. — Ho, Winds! 
Away! Learn why the gods delay the time. 

[Enter Winds at his call.'] 
Zephyros. Where to, my king? 

iEoLOS. To high Olympus, where 

The Gods assemble; I would know their will. 



324 ALCYONE. 

Eros. Great King, impatience is the mark of minds 
Of lowly birth, and so becomes not Gods. 
Some business waits decision of the Great, 
And conclave so is held; and this delay 
Tells that the Gods attend their duties there. 
Recall thy Winds. Let aimless missions go, 
And banish all thy fears. I am the God 
Of Love, and Hymen knows no more of this 
Than I. My mother, too, is here, and she 
Will add her word to mine to bless the youths. 

[Enter Ceyx and Alcyone, Aphrodite and attendants.] 

Ceyx. Have we thy blessings, King of Winds and Storms? 
Our hearts now wait the bound of union here, 
And sanction of thyself. 

Alcyone. Dear father, speak 

It now! 

Aphrodite. Love doth redeem the soul of man 
And raise him nearer God, whose essence true 
Is love itself! Etheral names of such 
Hath fired these mortals here, and I beseech 
Thee, mighty King of Passion's realm, to grant 
Them leave and time to join their mortal flames 
In high deific fire! 

iEoLOS. I would I knew 

The will of Zeus and his Olympic host! 
My heart is with the youths; persuasion lies 
That way. I must perforce give way, since wish 
Hath weakened will and love so pleads excuse! — 
Let come the nuptials! — wisdom pleads in vaint 

Chorus op Attendants. Make ready! Time is come, 
O gracious youths! 
Consent is gained and merry is the heart 
Of love! Make ready, and the deed is done! 

{Exeunt. 



ALCYONE. 325 

[Enter maidx, swinging torches in their harids. J 

Maids. As vestal maids we come in virtue trim ; 
As vestal lights we scorn the darkened night ; 
With vestal cheer we shake the festive limb, 
And join our voices in our soul's delight! 

Our hair is wreathed with laurel leaves and bloom; 

Our waists are girded with a span of gold ; 
Our hearts are free of any fear of gloom ; 

The reason of our coming soon is told! 

[Enter a gilded chariot.'] 
Attendants. Here is a golden car! within, the bride! 
As spider meshed these tapestries, her heart 
Is tangled so and bound! and by her side 
The groom so reveling in love s sweet art! 

The jewels of bright nature sparkle here; 

And rainbow colors bind the youths as one; 
The lutes and cymbals speak the notes of cheer, 

And tell the victory that Love has won. 

[Enter troops of men vnth flutes, cymbals, etc.] 
Pipers. We come, we come, to join our !oves we come! 
We come to altars spread and holy shrines! 
We sing, we sing, with joyous hearts we sing; 
We sing that Love his fetters here entwines! 
We dance, we dance, with nimble feet we dance; 
We dance to honor well this day and deed; 
We shout, we shout, with lusty voices shout; 
We shout that faith and love can find their meed! 

Chorus. We dance, we sing, we shout; 
We shout, we sing, we dance! 
Come trip with us, — perchance 
Love lingers here about! 

Eros. Maid of the Winds, thou comest to-day 

To marry a youth high in honor's bright way; 



326 ALCYONE. 

His heart in thy keeping will be a dear trust, 
Now guard it with love till dust is to dust! 

The Lyres. When hearts are joined, be true! 

Be true, be ever true! 
Let love alone command: 
Raise no contending hand; 
Regard the holy band: — 

Be true, be ever true! 

Eros. It is the set decree of Gods above, 

That human hearts shall knitted be in love; 
That Man and Woman shall to each so bring 
The dearest gift of nature's offering; 
The sex to live as one, — as Salmacis 
Found in her double-self a two-fold bliss! 

Chorus. When hearts are joined be true! 

Be true, be ever true! 
Let love alone command; 
Raise no contending hand; 
Regard the holy band: 

Be true, be ever true! 

Aphrodite. When thou a maid unto thyself doth take, 

Remember well thy part: 
Be unto her a husband, nor forsake 

Her for another's art. 
The thing that now enticeth thee is love; 
Nor scorn the smile that brings it from above. 
A frown may render blank that brighter hue, 
When faded lips alone will speak thy due! 

Flutes and Cymbals. Merry, be merry and love well thy 
Forget all thy troubles, engender no strife— [wife, 

Engender no strife; 
For such is the mood that pleases this life, 
That pleases and thrills, thrills, pleases this life! 



ALCYONE- 327 

We are gathering here in festal array; 
Our flutes and our cymbals to join us in song; 
All merry and bright and blithesome and gay — 
In throng after throng we are moving along — 
We are moving along, we are moving along! 

We honor the shrine, we will honor the feast ; 
We are gathing here in friendship and cheer; 
We honor the greatest, we honor the least ; 
With Eros as guide we are drawing more near — 
Nearer and nearer, we are drawing more near! 

Chorus. Merry, be merry and love well thy wife; 
Forget all thy trouble, engender no strife — 

Engender no strife — 
For such is the mood that pleases this life — 
That pleases and thrills, thrills, pleases this life! 

[ They gather around the Altar, singing, etc. ] 
Slaves. Fruits of earth we bring to thee! 

Offerings of our hearts and hands! 
Garnered sweets shall ever be 
Subject to thy wise commands! 

Torch Bearers. Hold aloft thy torches now; 
Circle here the shrine with light ; 
In the charmed ring allow 
Eros, fittest here to dight! 

Aphrodite with her son, 

Stands to welcome lovers there; 
Love has mastered hearts and won 

Just consent upon the pair! 

Eros. Make way for lovers to approach! 
Come, Alcyone^ with thy love! 
Weave olives in her hair and broach 
Arachne's veil in folds above! 

[Ckyx and Alcyone approach. Eros unrolls a scroll and reads . j 
By the Fair One sprung of froth ; 



328 ALCYONE. 

In the name of Love I join! 

Wise Athene now betroth,—- 

Weld their hearts to one new born! 

Greatest Hera, let thy smile 

Rest upon them here to bless ; 

Let no scorn their hearts beguile. — 

Bless as thou alone can bless! 

Zeus will favor them I know; 

Hymen here alone is slow! — 

In Olympian Courts ye stand 

Bound to each through Love's command; 

Wife and husband hence to be; 

Peace and love enternally! 

Chorus. Ye are joined! ye are one! 
And hence will abide 
Together to stem life's wild rushing tide! 
Let harmony dwell 
In hearts to help swell 
Their bulwark of cheer. 
Quelling all that is drear! 

Through hardship and trouble 

Let ne'er a bubble 
Of envy and spite ever enter your hearts! 

Be true each to each, 

Let no evil speech 
E'er drop that'll breed a brood of wild smarts. 

Our blessings fall on ye; 

Fall on ye eternally. 

JSolos. Blessings on my children here! 
I the parent will give cheer; 
Help to brighten future ways; 
Lengthen so the sunny days 
Wherein pleasures dwell and peace; — 
Parent's love would so increase! 
Children mine, within my land, 



ALCYONE. 329 

Welcome, and its gifts command! — 
Kiss doth seal, and here's my hand. 

Cbyx. And she is mine? 

Alcyone. Yes, I am thine! 

Gods would our hearts here so entwine! 

Ceyx. O Love divine! loose now thy tongue, 
And let me speak the words that wrung 
My soul when doubt could not believe 
What now my senses can't deceive! 
Sweet Alcyone is my own! 
Her heart is sepulchre and throne 
Of every joy and pleasure now 
Conceived or throbbed within my brow! 
My own! my own! Who will deny 
Me right to love her and to die 
In service of her love? 
Ye Gods above, 
So strengthen now my will and arm 
That I can keep her from all harm; 
Fulfilling so the trust ye gave to me; — 
Which is the sweetest duty that can be! — 
And we are man and wife! 

O joy divine, 
Give me words to define 
Emotions crowding now my bosom rife! 
O help me in the strife, 

And so combine 
These thoughts in graceful line, 
And let them burst in songs of happy life 
Of me and mine! 

[Exeunt lovers, arm in arm. 

[ The Heavens darken and Lightnings flash and Thunders crash. ] 

^olos. Ho! What is this? 

Attendants. A storm! a storm! Look! look! 

Its sudden advent breathes of hate! its breath 



330 ALCYONE. 

Is breath of fire that scorches with its flame! 
The earth now trembles and the heavens fall! 

Storm Spirit. Ho! ho! I rend the earth! 

Above my flames do lick the things of life 
That sprung from her; my thunderous bolt of strife 
Into her womb I hurl, that Birth 
May bring travails of Life, 
Whose fitter meed is Death, 
Than staggering breath! 
Roaring and flashing, pouring and dashing, 

Winds all contending, elements rife; 
Thunderbolts everywhere, Death smiling here and there, — 
What now defending? whither is Life? 

A Voice. This ominous gloom that o'ercasts the sky 
And turns the eye of Hesperos to red, 
That prods old Earth to seismic mutterings 
And groans which rise as from the wailing dead; 
That stirs the elements to clash and flash 
In battle wild as Furies fight in Hades; 
That shakes the canopy of heavens dark — 
The sable shroud of Atlas breathing death, 
As though it were the cerement of all Life; — 
Is but the frown of Gods upon the rites 
But here performed without their sanction's word! 

[ Thunders and Lightnings again, followed by angry Fountains 
springing up and Cataracts bursting from the Mountains 
ledges, all filled with writhing and hissing Nymphs.] 

Naiades. In the sprays of cataracts 

Come we forth! 
Bursting from the mountain's cracks 

As it roareth, 
We portend destruction now; 
Pleasures here we'll not allow; 
Gods directed us to bow 

Heads of both! 



ALCYONE. 331 

Writhing, twisting in our might, 

Bob we here; 
Seeking darkness of the night,- — 

Mark our cheer! 
With our mission fully known, 
Pleasures now to all disown; 
Lovers here may feel forlorn 

And die of fear! 

Hyades. Dropping as the tears of heaven, 

Come we not the soul to leaven; 
Duty bids us mock the cheer 
That occasion would have here! 

Potamids. Over, under, whirling, twirling, 

Come we downward, birling, purling, 

Eddying dismay! 
Froth upon our pallid lips; 
Foam within our hair so drips; 
Nimble in our romps and skips, — 

Hatred is our lay! 
Over, under, whirling, twirling, 
Come we downward, birling, purling, 

Eddying dismay! 

Hither, thither, tripping, skipping 
Like Gyrini, lipping, sipping 

Chalices of hate! 
Into fragments, into tatters, 
Passion's hand so tears and scatters, 
Bidding us as like combaters, 

Teach these lovers fate! 
Hither, thither, tripping, skipping 
Like Gyrini, lipping, sipping 

Chalices of hate! 

Terror. Ye gods! ye gods! what does it all portend? 

[ Exevnt. 



332 ALCYONE. 

Scene V. — Another part of the Palace grounds. The Lovers 
promenading. 

Ceyx. All things are bright when thou art nigh, my own! 
I heard that gloomy sights were seen last eve; 
That following our good-night to those, our friends, 
So gathered then to witness there our banns, 
The heavens darkened and the thunders crashed, 
While lightnings played as fiends within the sky! 
The Ocean roared and Earth gaped many mouths 
Whence issued doleful words of much to come! 
The voices so would lay it to our charge, 
And many are the guests now frightened off. 
Good ^Eolos, it seems, is much disturbed, 
And grief reigns in his household. 
I would not so bring sorrow on my bride; 
Nor can I think it other than the whim 
Of vain Nereides to frighten us. 

Alcyone. Thy straying love alone will frighten met 
Nereides I pity, but I fear 
No harm while here encompassed with thy love. 

Ceyx. Thou art a subtle flatterer to hold 

The noose of love! Draw it my sweet, for in 
Its tanglement I feel but pressured bliss! 

[Exeunt. 

[Enter iEoLOS with restless stride.] 
iEoLOS. Surely some fault is here! Else why these shades? 
These tremblings of the earth? the warning flash 
Of Elements disturbed? the thunderbolt 
Of Zeus? The hag was right and wiser she 
Than I! Fool, to have so deceived myself! 
This Eros hath a tool in iEolos 
And uses him to puppet deeds of love! 
So much for whim of childishness! I am 
Dishonored in mine age and Gods would scorn 
Him ever held in high esteem, since now 



ALCYONE. 333 

The fool is cropped to show the doting dunce! — 

The youths have been deceived, or all they told 

Me not — and what they left untold hath swelled 

To heaven high! Alack-a-day that I 

Should be deceived, and that my child should fall 

Into displeasure of the Gods. 

What meant the frown of Hesperos? 

Blood-cast his eye? Is C6yx, too, disowned? 

The father gave no sanction to the match — 

Too true! mine was their only blessing there — 

Save benediction of this headstrong Love! 

Poseidon may indeed be worth in that 

The earth did quake while angry waters hissed 

The moment that my daughter was bestowed! 

Whence came the thunder-flash of Zeus? and what 

Hath he in grievance here to say? As friend 

I held him, and as friend he should have joined. 

As friend! The soul of friendship is in name, 

Its deed an idle vaunt that never pays 

The usance of its claim — unless its speech 

Be taken coin of promise, so to pay 

Another promise with! — Old Nereus, too, 

Hath shown authority! Old Nereus who 

Was ever dull and never knew offence! 

Now hath he caught the rage of daughters wild? 

And will the "Calm" of Sea hence be its "Roar"? — 

But Hymen! Hymen! god of marriage! 

Why cam'st thou not when all awaited thee? 

daughter mine! enshrouded in the veil 
Arachne wove, meant it the shroud of death? 
Thy bridal but the nuptials of the grave? 
Ill-omened veil! infected art thou in 

Thy meshes with the fate of her that spun thee? 
And shall my child, my beauty's star, destined, 

1 thought ; to move upon man-trodden earth 
The gladsome light of those about, — because 



334 ALCYONE. 

She ha:.: assayed tc taste the sweets ;: life 
Feel thus the smite :: Fate, :v vengeful God? 
Hymen Hymen why lidst thou not come! 
Most : was thy absence, for saith not 

The prophecy, 2 nuptials "here 

The god of marriage halteth no: 7 w z 

Is this, for at the mating came he not 

Sibyl appears.] 

Sn Solos My words were -rue? 

ZBoLoe th hag thou hideous hag gn ^o! 

Let me not see thy cursed face again! 

now in bringing this? 
mds hen for deeds of hate! 

I raid teai thy ague em out 

_ hroat to f eed it tG my wra 
I'll teach thy lips tc son leceitfu] lies 
To wreck the fortune- i>i Love's happiness 
Is not the asylum now for fools 

not th< : v ing of de: at 

7 soi \ he vane of time. 

Whi veers and changes each passing brer 

And wilt thou furnish breath of ill re] 
To fix 1 to point the way . gloom? 

Away wit the r Zens will know thee not 
When I am don- 

Sibylla. X « — ra id me. King? Did I do wrong 

In telling 1 ee the rut] et thou thyself 

he the 1 iy, indeed hex Froth 
Must give aj ology for speaking ti 
My mission is : I ve I : s avert 

ills 1 knew would fall upon the lii - 
thos est Thou scorned me then. 

The s 3st me now. Conceit hide 

. . ei_ :_ . _ « : _ _' . .: 



ALCYONE. 335 

iEoLOS. A vaunt, thou thing! I'll have no more of thee! 
My patience is full tried. I may forget 
Restraint and rend thee ere I counsel well! 
There are enough ill-omened tongues to speak 
The death of love and faith, turn pleasures of 
The brightest day to pangs of darkest night, 
And cast the heaven of our hopes in pits 
Of dark despair ere torch of truth be seen! 
Don't think thou hast within thy grasp the truth 
Of all the world since gloomy is thy speech, 
For truths sometimes are light, while lies are dark 
As Erebos with marks of craven cares! 

Sibylla. Ha! ha! My dart is lodged! I speak the truth, 
No matter what its shade. 'Tis strange to thee, 
I know, but conscience hath apology 
For such enlightenment! Ha! ha! Enough! 
Attend me when thou wouidst become more wise! 
I'm glad to find a pupil apt as thou! 
I'll teach thee with much care! Ha! ha! ha! ha! 

iEoLOS. I'll teach thee with much care to hold thy tongue, 
Or live example of its freest use! 

[He tries to seize her, but she eludes him and flees into her cave, 
laughing scornfully. ] 

She's gone! Her feet are's nimble as her tongue, 
And just as lying, too, since age would mark 
Her feeble grown! Lo! hear her cursed voice! 

[A Fountain springs up in his path, .] 

A Voice. Open floodgates in thy sprays, 

Fountain wraith; 
Let thy Nymphs through water ways 
Come and teach him who betrays 
Trust imposed in him, the stays 
Duty would encompass strays — 

Teach him faith! 



336 ALCYONE. 

Open floodgates in thy sprays. 
Fountain wraith! 

Splashing in thy waters now. 

Are the Nymphs . 

With their wildest leaps they bow. 
And the bubbling billows plow; 
Much of ill and ruth, I trow. 
Must their patience here allow — 

How now, shrimps? 
Splashing in the waters now. 

Are the nymphs! 

Nymphs. Great King of Wind and Storm. 
Xow give us heed: 
We come to speak alarm. 
And of the deed 
That angered so our master that his need 
Should force redress from thee if not thy seed! 
Great King of Wind and Storm. 
Now give us heed. 

Poseidon now would -peak 

A word or two! 
The nymphs he loved to seek. 
Now him would sue; 
And so before him stand the weeping crew. 
With importunities which he will do! — 
Poseidon now would speak 
A word or two! 

.Eolos. ^peak not to me your grievances ; and tell 
Poseidon so. My duty is to mine. 
And them I first obey, smoothing the way 
Of life as best I can that they may stumble not 
In traipsing youth and age. Fools, why should I 
Befear me of the things of which ye speak? 
Am T a G-od, or am I mortal srown 



ALCYONE. 337 

To be now frightened with the cry of hate? 

Begone! Let daughters of old Nereus find 

Fit consorts for themselves. 

If great Poseidon now hath set you on, 

He will lament in having angered me. 

I'll wrack his watery throne till he will cry 

For peace! Go tell your master so. 

\_He leaves them, movitir/ toward the sea. 
Curst be these thoughts! My mind misgives me so! 

[The Sea is full of Gods and Nymphs riding upon the waves.'] 

Chorus. Our God Supreme is angry now! 
Who can his anger here ignore? 
The fool will let his folly bow 
His head to so receive the blow! 
Can iEolos so foolish grow? 

Poseidon is a mighty God. 

And God of Winds can never know 
What power waits upon his nod, 

Till he shall feel the heavy blow 
Of that God's fell and chastening rod! 

Earthquakes he starts and fearful roars 
That set the waters mad with fright ; 

And rushing waves dash on the shores 
Of every land to mark his might! 

vEolos. What mean ye all? and what is this ye speak? 
I am aweary grown with all the noise! 
My head doth feel chaotic as the Night 
That throbbed Titanomachia's advent, 
When boding dream tormented thoughts of Time 
And so evolved the offspring of Despair! 
If phantoms of my fear are ground'd in truth, 
Bespeak it now and hold the tongue henceforth! 

Proteus. It pleases us, great king, to see thee come 
With willing ear to hear report of truth ! 



338 AL CYONE. 

Thy daughter and her consort have the gods 

Distressed. Old Xereus finds a broken trust 

In payment of his care, who. lending help 

To Ceyx ; in the faith that he would use 

It to the end the purpose called, was much 

Chagrined when son of Hesperos refused 

To fill the mission of his voyage west. 

The ship and crew, the troop of daughters, too, 

Called for no end like this ; therefore the God 

Is wroth ! His daughters are the loved of all 

The sea. from Dolphin to Poseidon great. 

Poseidon then, when Amphitrite came 

"With grievances at heart, called out his host 

And bade them succor her at any cost. 

Though thou and thine be swallowed in the wave! 

And Hesperos is angry now because 

The son he trusted so hath broken trust 

With him. Much hung upon the message sent 

To Atlas, and Hesperia, and that 

The word was never borne is fault enough 

For anger and distress. So Hera. too. 

Is wroth, since nuptial gift to Zeus 

And her is so exposed! Our anger is 

Our fealtv to Gods above us here. 



xEolos. And I am answered! Ye mav go vour wavs 



— 



\_He turns, retracing his steps to the Castle. 
All gloomy now and darkened is thy pile, 
And like a spectre thou doth stand back-ground*d 
In night! A tomb thou art of love and dream, 
And not a home of cheer to love and me! 
Thy wake I'll keep, and like a vigil sharp. 
1*11 descant on the shadows as they pass, 
And call the watches till the light doth come! — 
My Alcyone! O, my love! Thy love 
Hath brought a gloom I see not through ; hath turned 






ALCYONE. 339 

The cheer that should have blessed this time into 
Wild grief and gloom and tempest yet of thought! 

[Exit. 
Scene VI. — Still the Castle grounds. 

[The Winds moa?i ruefully and the sky is hung with gloom. En- 
ter Clauthmon <m«? Claumone. ] 

Clauthmon. Let the drizzle, sobbing drizzle 

Of the Mist, come with the whistle 

Of the Wind that speaks of gloom! 
Over yonder in the heavens darkly clouds are hanging low, 
And the mother of the rain-drop is there brooding with the 

snow; 
Bringing earthward flaky feathers — eider of the skyey breast ; 
Wrapping as with shroud and cerement all the world doth deem 

Whistle, Winds, oh howl and bluster! [is best! 

Patter, rain, oh patter, splatter! 

Break the heavens with the clatter 

Of some dark impending doom! 
Here within the wold of Sorrow hath the soul no need to borrow 

Grief, or pain, or naught of all thy bluster! 

Claumone. Let the tear-drop softly trickle ; 

For the soul is yet as fickle 

As thy elements, O Change! 
Ever in the Tempest raging is the Spirit of the Storm; 
And the bosom pent is bursting with the cry of wild alarm; 
For the world is full of sinners and the heart is full of hate, 
And the tear-drop is the token of the sympathy of Fate! 

Rattle, Storm! Thy forces muster! 

Scatter raindrops ; scatter, spatter! 

Tempest tossed, what does it matter 

Whence it came, or what its range? 
Here within the heart of Sorrow, what of all thy grief to borrow, 
Since weeping comes without thy roar or bluster? 

Clauthmon. Sfster, we have much to grieve for! 
Storm and Tempest have we seen ; 



340 ALCYONE. 

Much that Hate would have a need for 
In bewildering what hath been 
Bright within the hour of sin! 

Claumoxe. Conies our father with sad gestures: 
Dark and gloomy is his brow! 
In the wood he now sequesters: 
Liking place to thoughts. I trow! 

\_E nter the Wind God. I 
.Eolos. "Whence are my people? Where is ail the cheer 
That once surrounded me? Hath fickle friend 
So borrowed fickleness of love, they both 
To flee on win^s of Piutus in mv fortune's flight? 
When ills are bread they teem as maggots do 
Filling the world with gad-flies full of buzz 
And sting! — Oh! woe is me. a god! 

Clauvoxe. O U :kcu great king of Elements. 

Whose hand doth hold unruly Winds in place. 
And maketh them the servants of a nod: 
Whose sou: is change, and every scudding cloud 
Directeth in the sky — the Calm and Storm. 
Thy smile and frown. — she" r the tears 

Of thy poor weeping child! Her grief thou canst 
Assuage. So full the earth with gruesome sights. 
My fear holds bated breath anticipating ills. 
My sister hath stirred evil in the hearts 
Of G-ods. and nymphs as well; and must we share 
Displeasure now in shielding her. and him. 
Perhaps, more deep in wrong than she? What pain 
Have I. and brother here, now given thee 
That thou shouldst - 1 - ise our peace and cheer? 
Let not these evils fall upon our heads. 
O father dear; for grief we have enough 
To move poor Pity's heart, without this last! 

Clauthmon". Dark like shadows of remorse. 
They have come our wav across. 






ALCYOJSE. 341 

Bringing with the gruesome night, 
Much that can the soul affright; 
Heaping ills upon the head 
Of the living, of the dead, 
Rousing souls to sense of fright, 
Brooding darkly in the light, — 
Goblins seen on every hand 
Sporting wild, without command; 
And the pastimes that were dear, 
Are the antics now of fear! 
Friend bereft and pleasures gone, 
Leaving heart in gloom forlorn! 
Such the aspect, such the state, 
Such the wish and will of Fate 
Meted to the lovers here : 
Prospect to them is most drear! 
Father, in thy wisdom now, 
Wilt thou further this allow? 

.ZEolos. Ye are unmindful children and have brought 
Much on yourselves! 

My Alcyone should have had more cheer: 
Should here have had a welcome that would plead 
With G-ods as tongue of eloquence in mouth 
Of love and friendship, gaining thus esteem 
By fellowship in cause. Instead, ye whine! 
Ye snarl and bite! — Ye have your just deserts! 
But she, my favored one! — Oh, what a life 
Of woe now stretcheth out to thee and thine! 

{Enter Achlys.] 
Achlys. In the womb of gloomy Night I was born. 
Frailest child of Nyx, I might feel the scorn 
That the world believes the right of the forlorn: 
Sympathy I have not found in this life! 
All the seasons I am bound up in strife: 
Misery I am, profound, as thy wife! 



342 ALCYONE. 

Changeful as thy name, thy creed, haughty King! 
What if now thy faith, indeed, may take wing, 
And the morrow see thee heed some other thing? 
Welcome I did not thy child yesterday ; 
And my reason was a- wild did ye say? 
Then the presage felt was mild; How now, pray? 
Warning take, and send adrift then this youth, 
Lest the Heavens frown and shift deeper ruth! 
Thou misfortunes can not lift now, forsooth! 

jEolos. Will no one speak defense for my poor child? 
Unhappy day thou wast conceived, O love! 
Unhappy day thou wast brought forth to grace 
A wicked world, the sunlight of thy countenance 
To fall in shadows of the scudding clouds 
That hang misfortune's brow in gloom! 
Oh false the hand of Heaven which bestowed 
That sign of light and love, since it hath brought 
Instead of peace, grief all unspeakable! 
Thy smile hath proven snare to happiness 
To win for thee a heart which so won thine 
To lot of misery! Thy mother scorns 
The thing she travailed here! Thy brother and 
Thy sister, too, pray evils on thy head! 
Whilst I, alone, have all the world to face! 

Enter Messenger. 
Messenger. King of Winds and Storm, I pray, 
Listen to me here to-day! 
Message bring I and a truce: 
Listen to the will of Zeus! 
Word hath come to him that thou 
Doth an enemy allow 
In thy fold to him and thee: 
Such a thing must never be! 
Son of Hesperos is here, 
Him they sent with message drear 



ALCYONE. 343 

To the Islands in the sea 
Where the Golden Apples be, 
Telling Atlas and the maids, 
Of approaching thefts and raids 
Wherein all the fruit so prized 
Would be raped ere realized! 
Since the youth hath proven base 
To the trust imposed, and lost 
Nuptial gift, it will him cost 
Much that will bring sure disgrace. 
Harbor therefore not the youth! 
Let him feel the sting of ruth! 
So in council sat the Gods; 
In agreement were their nods! 
Doom was so pronounced on him, 
Hanging only on a whim 
Some expressed that he might change 
And correct his conduct strange. 

Enter Nephos. 
Nephos. Now wilt thou listen, King of Storm, 
Unto the ravings of a loon? 
And turn thy friendship all so soon 
To hate and what can blast and harm? 

The youths deserve more at thy hand! 
And if they have indeed done wrong, 
It was because their love was strong, 

Their will too weak to brook command! 

Clauthmon. Oh listen not to him, great king! 
He always sees the brighter side! 
He caps the crest of every thing; 
But crown as tongue, has often lied! 

Above his folds the sun may shine, 

Whilst yet beneath the gloom may hide; 

And while the heart with grief doth pine, 
He breaks to span the rainbows wide! 



344 ALCYONE. 

JEolos. When cam's* thou from the gods? 
Messenger. But now. O King. 

JEolos. Complaint hath then, indeed, been borne to Zeus? 

Messenger. Aye. King; and high Olympus is aroused. 

JEolos. Why should I care? This kingdom here is mine: 
And can not I bestow upon my child 
The favor of my home but that some God 
Of evil ease will feel distressed and beg 
I may not so bestow my favor thus. 
In pleasure to myself and mine, though naught 
But current rumor of their ill I hear? 

Messenger. But the evil he hath done 
By his negligence, hath won 
Hate of many who can ruin; 
And in council they are brewing 
Dark reports and conduct vile. 
That increases so their bile. 
Ye will find it hard to bear 
All the ills they'll have ye share! 
This his negligence hath done — 
Since the hero's craft hath won: 
Atlas now upbears the dome 
That Immortals call their home; 
Him who should have been with them. 
Is their pedestal and stem! 
Apples of the Garden are 
Strewn abroad to stir up war; 
Dragon, too. is crushed and dead. 
And the maidens now are fled. 
Leaving Islands of the Blest 
Desolate, and scattered west! 
Hesperos beholds his home 
Full of ruins, and no welcome! 
And the curtains of the nisrht 



ALCYONE. 345 

He would draw to hide the sight! 
Nuptial gift of Zeus is gone, 
And his Queen is all forlorn ; 
While Poseidon feels the rage 
Of the Gods who would engage 
Any force that might defend 
Him they once did full attend! 
Nymphs can any God provoke! — 
Take up arms and bear their yoke! 

Nephos. Within the fray thou hast already arms : 
Their wield is in behalf of those we love! 
Bid him go speak to others his alarms: 
Thy duty first is to those whom we love! 
Olympian hosts are futile in their rage. 
The Elements can well the Gods engage! 

^Eolos. Forbear thy words, good Nephos: I am done! 
I fear me I was wrong and should have bid 
The youth no welcome to my land! — My love, 
What hast thou done? What wild temptation led 
Thee to bestow thy heart in wayward mood 
Upon the one of all who could so bring 
Remorse and sorrow in my kingdom here? 
Alas, I love thee deep as heart can love; 
I hold but friendship for thy lover, too, 
And him would shield against the hate of gods, 
Were hands of mine fit weapons of defense 
To use against a host of enemies! 
But oh! the strife that now is drawing on. 
Is too unequal in the gage! I stand 
Alone whilst hosts innumerable oppose! 
Poseidon's war would profit me thus much: 
I can not conquer him; I can not by sucJh strife 
Appease his wrath, nor so advance myself, 
Nor children's cause in favor with the rest 
Who side with him and stand opposed to me! 
I shall alone confine myself and those 



346 ALCYONE. 

I love, and those who wait on me, within 

My kingdom here, or in these castle walls, 

As prisoners who ever yet were free! 

My Winds are valiant, faithful, strong, but they 

Can only froth his waters, or make wild 

The restless sea wherein his throne is sunk; 

Whilst he can wash away my shores and leave 

My lands all bare! Will not the others help? 

Old Nereus and his crew, and thundering Dios? 

Oh. what a pass! my daughter! O my love! 

If power lay with me how gladly would 

I wield it for thy good! But yet, methinks — 

Away! My thoughts conflicting are and dark! 

I Exeunt. 
Scene VII. — The Castle's Corridor*. 

[Enter Ceyx and Alcyone.] 
Ceyx. My love. I met a bird to-day. and he 

Did croak misfortunes in my face. His song 

Did mimic prophecy of Hate, and he 

Had caught it. so he said, from messenger 

Straight from Olympian courts where that decree 

Was spoken as our doom! I can not tell 

The words he spoke me then, so dark they were 

And full of ill to come. I turned from him 

Of evil speech and would have come to thee, 

But beast and frightful shape debarred my way. 

Their tongues all loose and wagging of despair. 

I then beheld thy father in the glade, 

And he was srrieving as his heart would break ; 

And marveled I to see a G-od so moved! 

Again I thought of thee, but slaves of thine 

Despised me in their looks and gave no heed 

To any query that I put to them. 

So Love found me the way to thy retreat! 

Hast heard what now forebodes the household, love? 



ALCYONE. 347 

Alcyone. I know no thing except thy love is mine! 
My sister and my brother weep and sigh, 
But that they often do. and their distress 
Is changeful as the sky or shifting winds. 
My father seems disturbed and moved at that 
I know not, nor why slaves should be so rude 
And arrogant of stare with thee, my love. 
My father will their duty teach to them 
And show them what becomes a menial's state. 

A Bird. To- whit, to- wheel I speak decree 
Of Gods and Fates assembled free. 
My chirps are heard? Mark then the word 
Of prophecy in speech of bird. 
Dark is the gloom and sure the doom 
The Fates have said. To you a tomb 
Will surely stand within a land 
Of barren waste and drifting sand! 

Another Bird. Now isn't this quite witty, 
My simple little ditty 
That speaks of Ruth and Folly wed in love? 
'Tis truly now a pity 
That Truth should be so chitty 
To tell the mighty 
And the flighty, 
And the cooing lovers here, 

Of the gloomy shaking, quaking, 
Sad decree of mighty fear? 
When my little ditty, ditty 
Would have chirped no pity, pity 
To the lovers of their love ! 
Or their joyful peace and cheer! 

[Enter a Slave.] 
Slave. Mistress, I am come to tell 
Thee that Wisdom deems it well 
To thy love thou say'st "farewell!" 



348 ALCYONE. 

Come away, and bid him go 
To some other rocky shore 
Where his ills none there will know. 
Evil hath he brought to thee; 
Full the land of misery, 
And of rage the mighty sea! 
Come. I pray! Oh, bid him go! 
Let thy servants show him no 
High regard as heretofore. 
He hath left thy heart forlorn: 
Let him feel the world's wild scorn! 

Alcyone. Hold! Who hath sent thee here with such a 
Is any one within this land so base? [speech? 

Who knows no law of hospitality, 
And what is due, though enemy were guest? 
And such a speech to one who is beloved 
By rulers of the land deserves the scourge 
Of Rage laid on with Fury's hand! Away! 
G-o hide ti^self until my father comes! 

The Bird. To-whee! to-whee! to-whee! 
Away! hence! flee! 
Now isn't it grand to be 
Mistress of slaves like we? 
To-whee! to-whee! to-whee! 

Ceyx. Perhaps thy slave is right, my lost, my own! 
I've felt within my heart a nameless dread 
Ere this, that fortune was too good to last; 
Too sweet to yet be true! That all were sure 
A dream from which I would awake to find 
Thee vapor of a thought the heart hath stirred 
Within the brain! I am prepared for this. 
I am prepared to meet the rage of all, 
And be dispelled to darkness of the night! 
T am prepared! — but let me carry thence 



ALCYONE. 349 

An image of thyself unmarked with grief, 
To buoy me in the darker hours of life. 

[Enter ^Eolos.J 
JSolos. 'Tis strange that here within my land no peace 
I find! I thought myself a ruler once, 
One having sway of power and the will 
Of King to force the draught of Pleasure's meed! 
But now a chalice filled with dregs of hate 
Is at my lips, and Fate would have me drink! 
How soon a day may cloud though all so fair! 
And breath that fanned the cheek with loving sigh, 
Changed to the bluster and the roar of Storm; 
So biting thus the very thing it kissed! — 
My child, thy star of destiny is set! 
It sank 'mid clouds and gloom! Thou didst not see 
It rise; what heralded its dawn. It sprang 
Full in its zenith and its flash left Orb 
Of Day within the nadir of despair, 
Seeking to here eclipse the new-born light! 
It came a nucleus of much light ; it bore 
A coma of some joy divine, we thought, — 
But yet a shroud to trail it till it sunk, 
Then wrapt it in the folds of colder death! 
Thy birth was one of light, for 'mid the gloom 
That hung maternity within my realm, 
Thou cam'st a ray of sweet serenity, 
Presaging the advent of calm and peace. 
Thy childhood gave the promise fairest hope, 
And youth did flash into a smile of cheer 
When ripples of thy laughter broke the still 
Of gloomy thoughts that filled the heart of Storm. 
I smiled upon thy wishes when a child, 
And bade my household wait upon thy glance, 
And lent mine ears to prayers of love when youth 
Had blushed the bud of womanhood and stood 
Full blown. I did o' err each my limit so, 



350 ALCYONE. 

And tempted Fates who set the world's decrees. 

I listened to the cry of Love and did 

As he desired; and lo! have brought despair 

And death within my realm; and threatened war 

My force can not oppose! Olympian Gods 

Revile me for my childishness, and bid 

Me now reform and send adrift the youth 

Of all complaint, or else hence stand their arms 

In unity and strength which will in battle join. 

Alcyone. O father! father! bid the gods forbear! 
They can not justly blast the happiness 
Of any mortal who doth live in grace 
Of their own gift of life. It is no fault 
Of mine that I do love my Ceyx ; it is 
No fault of his that he should feel some love 
For me ; for Eros holds the darts of love 
And by the chance shot of his bow they lodge. 
Uniting so affections of the hearts. 
What wise decree would have us love then break 
Our hearts in breaking bonds of love? Not Gods. 
But hate of all the Gods would so decree! 
Bid them forbear, and I will add my prayers 
With thy demand, and dight myself in shreds 
Of all their rage if such humility 
Can so appease the anger of such gods! 

^Eolos. My daughter, thou had stirred me with thy cause 
Anew were not destruction now within my land 
Awaiting but a word to all destroy! 
What right the Gods had to forbid thy banns, 
I could not see, else confirmation had 
Forever waited on my sanction's word. 
'Tis done, however, and the day is full 
Of omens dark ; and dreadful is the doom 
Impending all, if cause of all remain. 

Ceyx. Good iEolos, I will not break the cloud 
Of dark misfortune to deluge thy land. 



ALCYONE. 351 

I will away! I knew not that my stay 

Were cause for such a storm of wild unrest ; 

That I had angered Gods to that extent — 

Oblivious so within my soul's sweet love 

Of any deed of trespass or of breach 

That I had made in the decrees of Gods! 

I dreamed my little hour in thy land 

Unf retted by the ghouls of any hate; 

I basked within the smile of such a love 

That were enough to hide the shades without, 

That so would stalk within a soul's unrest! 

And such excuse is all I have to give 

For my disturbance of your gracious realms. 

Thou hast been kind, and I have proved ingrate, 

Repaying hospitality with hate 

Of fierce, revengeful gods who grievance hold 

'Gainst me! Bid me but go, and I am gone, 

Though heart I pluck from bosom here to leave 

It thee as token of a love forlorn! 

iEoLOS. Thou art a victim of poor Folly's rage. 

My heart is touched for thee — thee and my child. 
And I had hoped to see ye blessed in love! 
The dream is passed. Reality is here, 
And with it is the clamor of the Gods 
That come full armed to do the deeds of threat, 
If I but bid thee stay! My coward course 
Is now to bid thee gone: but futile strength 
Is plea for such a course! for this, my realm, 
Is sacred to my care and first in my defense. 
Forbear me shame of speaking plainer words, 
And deem me now as having said "Farewell"! 

[Exeunt iEoLOs, Slavs, etc* 

[Weeping, Ceyx and Alcyone fall into each, others' arms.] 

Ceyx. Sweet Alcyone, thou hast heard! So fair 
Hath been my dream; so cruel now its dark' 



■■■=- 



Al TONE. 



Awakening! Thou cam's? a light* O sweet. 

Win :z ; zj '.:-■= ' bli^son : : :: ~zi -_i 

Of hope that grew up with my life. The bloom 

~: Tr-sT-riij is fs-if i z.: — Q -i ;".^ : 
A ^ ::'_rrei s~n al n- :•: :_r ._- :~z-7- 
~~.-\ri :if : -i ' - — « ,. : -:t:; I — us: g: 
The mask of thy companionship and lore. 

. - " - ■ - " r \ : ' -'zZL -U.\ :^ 

In memoir ever dear, an huge * ieH 

To kiss as in undying radiance so. 

Th-= -.:. -^g'-Ts :: :i-h ~t irT-aZZr-ri ! _r ir?< 
7 :: ::i > . . -;' : ~z*z ::=■ 5^"~tz.t.55 will 
7 ■.■•■■. ~:z z:- * : liz"-" ~Zr g:«:~ 

Ai: r;r::: Liz'iZLrSi :: zit 77 t ~ T -;-. - •_ -- - 
'. : v. .'.:. -- . :zir :: rrillziz: ~:-Zt; :: Zr.hT'.s 
1:z:tz _ — -'.:: z:: :: 7z:s . Far - 'zi- zi~~- 






'•rrie: 



>.::tt :: ::t zi- ' — 7 i= 1 alrzz-r 
Tzz= i.zg-r r:z.se:l 1 7z- ■..----- :z:v-gz: 
Of Gods upon this land and thee! I that 
7zz7:: ~zi sigi: :: 1.-:."-- _zl ; :.:. !:■: 
Q| woe and znrse! Alaek-a-day! 

It does not end with me! My pestilential 
E h - 1 — ' -. - r • : : : z -r " r - - - z - :' z 1 - r : : 17, 
Azi 5::"i:^7 1 zi~- :7 - • 1: - - s _lz 

~i\- -3- ~t iuf 7.:z~ ivt Iri izt :r: 



zziz-a 



ALCYONE. 353 

So go I must alone! But in my absence, dear, — 
Which shall, I fear, be all for aye — wilt thou 
Remember me as one who meant no harm 
To thee, but by his love so stumbled once 
To drag thee to his hapless lot? Let some 
Sweet pity plead excuse when I am gone. 
When I am gone! O heavens! must I leave 
My love behind? The sweetest thing of life 
Turn to my back as though repugnant grown? 

grief! O grief! Ah me! — Yes, I must go! 
Must leave thee for thy father's fitter love! 

1 can not weigh my claim 'gainst his! My life 
Is one of misery ; his all of cheer — 

Were I but out his land! The sacrifice 

Is all too great. — I have not served thee right. 

Excuse is in my love! Accept it, sweet, 

And bid me now "Farewell" and heaven's speed! 

Alcyone. And thou so meanly now regardeth me! 
Think'st that I wed the fortune of thy smile? 
Thy sorrow would divorce to all its pain? 
Oh, I believed thou gav'st me better faith! 
What is my home? what is my father's love? 
What now is all the world compared to thee? 
Rememb'rest thou the words that made me thine? 
The subtile speech that fused two hearts in one? 
Knowest not that Eros spoke unto our Souls? 
That now before the Grods on High, the Shades 
Beneath, the face of Honor's truest self, 
We stand as one, to thrive or fall as such? 
Oh, bate me not for want of sympathy 
And due obedience to thy poor need! 
Thy trials will I share; thy fortune seek 
Improve: with thee my duty is, and there 
Will I be found! — And this is my "Farewell!" 

Cbyx. My brave and trusting heart, thy love doth speak! 



354 AL( I . I 

But hast thou looked the dangers :hat 

Must hence esel ay The ills and stin^. 

And nettles srrown of hate which angry Gods 
Will hem me with, or goad me to the en .' 
There are wild seas that lie before me now. 
And trackless woods with many langers full, 
The which I must traverse ere I can reach 
The land I call my home — my kingdom, where 
S ...' : «relc mc is and peace and sweetest resl 

AidCTOHS. So much that says that I must go with thee 
Now were thy journey one what need 

Of : fcerl My love. I go with thee! 

Ceyx. So be it then. Our fates are one. and w r 
Will bear the burden so. faring as bes~ 
We can. — The woods now stretch their shadows forth 
As garments of the Xight in which to hi 
And there will we. from eye of who pursues. 

Alcyo>-k. Farevrel.. my shildh i s s 1 to 

Here have I spent the charms of all my youth. 

Here chased the joys that flitted company : 

Here chased the ^hudows in my childish glee 

That were to others born — to me no ruth 

Brought tear-drop to mine . for I from such ■ - 

I had not tasted then what n - aie! r free 

Farewell, my childhood" s home! 
The bliss that I have km 
The moments spent in idlene— - sweet, 
Will help to buoy me when wild griefs I mer 
And dark*— irs will thy remembered day- 
Full of their cheer, light up: and recollection - 
st a halo round the head of gloom! 

Farewell, my childhood's home! 
I leave thee with regret of what thou art : 

. _ a the pristine gl nth. 






ALCYONE. 355 

Thou art no longer full of peace, forsooth : 
But hate and gloom have taken here a part 
To fill beloved bounds with scorn and wilder ruth 
That bid farewell and send me out to roam! 
And so farewell for aye, my cbilhood's home! 

[Exeunt. 



ALCYONE. 



DRAMATIS PERSONS PART II. 



Ceyx, King of Trachiniae. 

Zephyros, I 

Euros, i 

Boreas, ' The Winds. 

Notos, 

Typhoeus, J 

Heph^estos, God of the Forge. 

Brontes, ) Cvclot)S 

Steropes, J ^y clo P s - 

Poseidon, God of the Sea. 

Chiron, Chief of the Centaurs. 

Apollon, God of Light. 

Cyparissos, a Youth, 

Pegasos, the Winged Horse. 

Heosphoros, the Light Bearer. 



Alcyone, wife of Ceyx 
Circe, a Sorceress, 
Calliope, } 
Clio, 

Melpomene, | 

Thalia, 

Polyhymnia, | The Muses. 

Terpsichore, | 

Urania, 

Euterpe, 

Erato, J 

Eos, the Dawn. 



Nymphs (Oreads, Napasas, 
Beasts and Birds. 

Scene First : A wild wood 
Heaven. 

Time— Thirteen hundred years B. C 



Hyades, etc.) Sirens, Satyrs, Goblins, 
then the Sea, etc., afterwards Apollon's 



PART II. 

Scene I. — A Wild Wood. Enter Ceyx and Alcyone, picking 
their way through the tangled under brash. 

Ceyx. Art tired, my love? Now let me bear thee 'cross 
This treacherous slough. I would not have thy feet 
Befouled with slush of bog. 

Alcyone. But steady me 

And I can walk. Thou must not think me weak 
To thereby waste thy strength in helping me. 
With thee I sure could climb the Pindian heights 
As though they were but mole-hills in my way. 
When will the tangled arms of this wild wood 
Unclasp themselves to show us light of day? 



ALCYONE. 357 

Ceyx. My sweet, I know not where the boundaries lie. 
Be cheerful though, and lean upon my arm! 
Sweet hope says there's an end to even this; 
And Phoebos may our pathway flood with light 
Ere we have gone much farther in this gloom. 
Enough it is to know that every step 
We take is greater distance placed between 
Ourselves and enemies who may pursue. 

Alcyone. Thy bouyancy of spirit I can feel, 

And more it lends to plodding limbs than staff 
To lean upon. But tell me, Ceyx, dear, 
Something of thy fair home where thou and I 
Are journeying to in hopes of peace and rest. 

Ceyx. I can not paint its beauties with a word, 
My sweet, nor draw a picture of its ease 
From these environments. But by contrast 
Sketch thou the fancy light that plays with words 
Of my sweet home: I never knew how fair it was 
Until here lost and wearied out with care 
A dream of its sweet rest is borne to me! 
My home, my dearest heart is just a cove 
For thee and me and happiness and love! 
I need not say grand Palaces arise 
Filled with the luxuries of hearts' desire, 
That fields and glens stretch out on every hand 
Containing all that avarice would choose, 
That slaves 'wait beck and nod, and love obeys, — 
Because, my love, 'tis Love that should command. 
But friends and kindred fill my land with peace, 
And temples rise in sanctity of all, — 
And is this not enough for heart's content? 
G-reen pastures feed my steeds, (which are as swift 
As winds that sweep along my fair domain), 
And oxen graze in meadows, and the stag 
Bounds over the rugged hills in wild delight. 



358 ALCYONE. 

My home is this and more — But it, alas! 
Is in Thessalian plains, while we, aweary, 
Are many seas away! 

[ They reach a stream on the hanks of which sits a weird Water 
Wraithe. ] 

Water Wraithe. Oh teach me not to chide! 
The sullen stream is slow, 
But wilful is its flow, 
And sluggish though that tide, 
It robbed me of my own, sweet, loving bride! 

Alone I sit and weep; 

My heart is bowed in grief! 

Ye waters bring relief 
To him ye robbed, or sweep 
Him in the arms of dark oblivion deep! 

Like hope that blights too soon, 

Our mundane dream was short! 

The bliss we thought Love wrought 
Dim faded ere its noon, 
And Death seems now Life's only hope and boon! 

Voice prom the water. Weep not for me! 
My love is yet with thee, 
Though soul flows onward, outward, free — 
To the roaring, restless, wild, unfathomed Sea! 

The Waters. We gurgle ! em down! we gurgle 'em down! 
No sympathy in our bosom is found! 
When earth-breathing thing our anger hath braved, 
No power that creature hath ever yet saved! 
We gurgle 'em down! we gurgle 'em down! 

Beware of the rage of the fierce Water-sprite. 

No storm can his soul so fully delight 

As strangling wails of some poor drowning thing 

As it sinks 'neath the wave with the smile of Death's 

We gurgle 'em down! we gurgle 'em down! [sting! 



ALGYOJSE. B59 

Our pity is meted to those that we love, 
Our duty to those who command from above; 
Poseidon is King and he doth command 
Employment now of this far-reaching hand. 
We gurgle 'em down! we gurgle 'em down! 

Ceyx. Away! away! The Water's Wraithe is here! 
We have not yet escaped its wide control! 
Within the wood far less is to be feared, 
Though trackless is its main and gloom its shroud. 

[ They hasten away. 
Art weary now, my sweet? Ah, cruel Fate, 
That bids us flee whenever we would rest! 

Alcyone. My love, I am aweary grown for thee ; 
For thou art sure the one unused to toil. 
Thy home, I know, is free from such turmoil 
As found in mine! I am the child of Storm 
And Gloom, and thou hast wed, in wedding me, 
A brood of wild unrest. 

Ceyx. Ill close thy lips 

With kisses yet, if thou doth still persist 
In trolling such untruth! I am the one 
Who brought unrest upon thy head, and I 
Will soon restore thee to good peace again. 
Come! see, the night is settling down in gloom! 
Good faith is now in need, for every nook 
Within this sombre Wood seems filled with shapes 
Fearful to mortal eye! The lingering rays 
Of day are paling fast, snuffed by the imps 
Of Darkness, who would draw the sable folds 
Of gloomy Night leaving some Fear to skulk 
Within the heart's alarm. — Here let us rest. 
Sweet Innocence, stand guard beside our couch! 

Alcyone. But yonder, Ceyx, dear, is fitter couch. 
Beneath yon linden is a downy bed 
Some G-od has surely spread for wanderers hero. 



360 ALCYONE. 

The tree nods welcome, and the golden bells 

That flower on its limbs, like torches, burn 

To so illumine couch beneath! Why not 

The proffered bed with cheerful light whose beams 

"Will drive away the frightful gloom without? 

Ciyx. Tis there we then will slumber. May the Gods 
Our rest attend! O gentle Sleep, come thou 
And close the lids of weary eyes, and steep 
These rankling thoughts in sweet forgetfulness! 

[They pillow their heads on the Linden's roots and faU asleep 

The Winds begin to rustle the trees. Voice comes with the whisper 

lyi.g Breeze which stirs the slumber of the Forest. Z 

Thi Breezes. We stealthily creep through the woods 
round about. 
We sweep with a bound the mountain so high. 
We bear on our breath the hunter's wild shout. 

We catch in our swirl the lover's soft sigh: 
But now we're searching the dark Forests through 
For fugitives fled — Who here hath seen two? 

We moan 'mong the crags of the rocky hill sides. 

We whistle the reeds and the leaves drift and blow: 
For our soul is unrest, and our heart is in tides 

Of doubt and uncertainty and sorrow to know 
Whence child of JEolos. and whence the proud youth 
Who stole her from home to share his wild ruth. 

[The Father's Echoing Sigh.] 

Alcyone! Alcyone! 

Whither art thou gone? 
JEolos loves thee! Return unto me! 

Thy father is all forlorn! 
.Eolos loves thee! My daughter loves thee! 

Heart of thy sire is torn! 

vThi Forest shakes and is aroused* 



ALCYONE. 361 

The Linden. I heard a wail within my sleep so sad 
That Grief might well assay to emulate 
Its kind in 'rousing Pity up. Insooth. 
It stung the heart of sympathy as pang 
Of shadowy Death might wring a peaceful life 
That never dreamed of dissolution's part. 
Was it a dream, or was it cry of truth? 

The Larch. I heard the voice but thought it Fancy's wail 
That lives an incubus to dreaming souls. 
Fear silenced me until thou brok'st the spell. 

The Oak. What said the voice? 

The Ash. Inquiries loud it cried 

Regarding runaways whom Dryads say 
Are children of great iEolos, the King 
Of Winds, and Hesperos, the twilight star. 
The daughter of the King, so loving son 
Of Hesperos, hath fled with him, and they 
Are hiding in our shades the Winds declare. 

The Linden. And here upon my sward they lie asleep. 
My swelling roots are pillows for their heads. 
Some care hath spread my boughs to cluster them 
From dreary night, while slumber soft hath purged 
Their drowsy heads from thought's tormenting dreams. 
What grievous thing have likes of these now done? 

A Voice. Offended Sea and Earth and God and Life! 
Nereides have scorned; made sport of their 
Gray-bearded sire; defied Poseidon's will, 
And set at naught the Winds and iEolos! 
Ah, thou hast cradled here a lovely pair! 
A twain that hold no love for thee; for thou 
Wast once a daughter of the sea, and though 
No Nereid, yet daughter of the Tide 
That swells the Ocean's deep. Thy sisters fair 
These two have scorned as though Nereides. 



362 ALCYONE. 

The Linden. Then by my father's blood they have offended 
Pale Oceanides are sisters mine, [me! 

And kindred to Nereides whom these. 
Ye say. have vented spleen upon. My soul 
Would burst with wrath at arrogance of them! 
Arouse! ye naughty ones! Arouse ye straight! 
I will not bolster heads of enemies. 
Nor let them rest in peaceful slumber where 
I hold control. Arouse! I say. Begone! 

[The Tree shakes with rage, the Golden. Flowers turn to fiery 
lights and glare like torches in the inky night. ] 

Alcyone. O Ceyx. what is that? 

Ceyx. Who spoke? 

The Linden. Who spoke? 

I. whom ye were reposing on! Is it 



For me to render service here to them 
Whom hatred all alone deserve? 

Ceyx. But who 

Art thou? And how have we offended thee? 

The Linden. One whom it matters not to thee. But yet 
I am, or lately was. fair Philyra. 
A nymph. Oceanos my sire, and Time 
My mate who fathered Chiron great, the Sea 
My home, and Nereus. King of all its calm. 
Is brother too to me; and his fair nymphs 
Ye have enraged with scorn! Know then that I 
Espouse his cause; embrace his grief as mine; 
And if ye can escape revengeful hands 
Of him. avenging ones of mine will fall 
Upon your heads. Brave Chiron is my child. 
King of the Centaurs he. and with the force 
To do my will — which ye. perhaps, can guess! 
Tis not for us to suffer such insult 
As that which comes from vou. so lowly born 






ALCYONE. 363 

And full of earthly spleen! Well may ye now 
Lament the act that hath incurred our hate. 
So get ye on your way and thank the Fates 
That rooted me ere ye had found me out, 
For else I would now spur you on with prods, 
Not words! 

Cbyx. We did not wish to anger thee. 

We knew no cause for hatred, nor did dream 
By resting here we were committing wrong. 
How just thy rage I'll let the Gods decide, 
For weary have I grown excusing wrath 
That falls upon me begging cause of spleen. 
Farewell! I hope that in the gloom of night 
When melancholic spirits crowd thy heart 
Confessing wrongs that peevish rage hath done, 
Some thought or better impulse will be born 
Which mercy will encourage to be just 
And see itself within the place of that 
It would prejudice! We bid you now farewell! 

[Ceyx and Alcyone clasp hands and move farther in the dark- 
ness, but are confronted by an Ovil which flies into their faces .] 

The Owl. Oh ho! Oh hoc! 

Now whither do ye go, 

With speed of fright and faces white as snow? 

'Tis darkness that surrounds you, and below 

Is Death! Above no glow 

A way to show! 

Ho, ho! Oh ho! 

Alcyone. What danger now, great Zeus? 

Ceyx. Peace! peace! accursed bird! 

What evil omen hath thy beak thrown wide 
To tear and scare the heart with ill portents? 

The Owl. And shall I tell thee, creature of the dust? 
Wouldst thou so pierce the veil of future acts 



364 ALCYONE. 

To learn the fruitlessness of earthly dreams? 

Kill deed of good with knowledge of the ill 

It surely will entail? Thou wouldst lament 

The truth and curse the tongue that told it thee! 

Man cries for wisdom, yet within his heart 

Is ignorance lodged, and fitter for his hope 

And simple happiness such is. The G-ods 

Do know your needs far better than ye do. 

I could torment the sweetest calm that can. 

Or ever lulled a human soul to rest — 

But no recitals here! Not yet! not yet! — 

Still, in regard to you — suffice it now — 

Hush! prattling tongue! Let silence speak the rest 1 

Ceyx. In name of greatest Zeus now who art thou? 

The Owl. A bird accurst, indeed! Ascalaphos 

Once known, the son of Woe and Darkness then, 
But now an ugly, wise, ill-omened thing. 
Disturber of the night and peaceful sleep; 
Hated by all, for doomed to augury 
And mischief is my every word and act. 
So look ye well! ye are within my clutch! 

\_He flies o gainst them hooting and clawing S\ 

Ceyx. O mercy! save my Alcyone now! 

Alcyone. O justest G-ods, come to my Ceyx's aid! 

[Bats come flying about their heads.'] 

The Bats. Within the gloom of night we whiz, 
So live and die! 
Wherever ill or trouble is 
There will we fly, 
Buzzing and tearing, seizing and bearing 
Everything nigh! 

We heard a cry that told of ill — 



We've come to see 



ALCYONE. 365 

We're here with firm, determined will, 
And claws all free — 
Scratching and biting, flaying and fighting 
All we can see! 

[The fall upon the Owl in fight. 

Here! Catch! 

Hold! Fetch 
Chalice for his blood! 

Happy we! 

Struggles free! — 
Fluid very good! 

[Ceyk and Alcyone flee to the darkness. 

The Owl. Away! Ye fools! 

The game is gone! 

Mid yonder pools 

The twain are flown. 
Ye have my claws restrained which might 
Have torn fit victims here to night! 

Ceyx (in the woods). Now let them fight since we are free. 
My hope is that their wild melee 
May cripple them and leave us free! 

[A Voice in the dark weeping.'] 

The Voice. Oh, woe is me! A cypress tree 
I stand with limbs adroopingly! 
Because of grief my life was brief, 
But found not in this tree relief! 
Oh woe is in my soul! 

Sad was the day when as a fay 
I traipsed the woods in romp and play. 
For there I met and killed the pet 
On which Appollon's heart was set — 
His docile stag so bold. 

Misfortune's deed! of this take heed! 
My grief is merely folly's meed; 



3n* ALCYONE. 



And I am bound here in the ground 
To pay in turn the thoughtless wound 
I gave Apolldn's stag! 

A Cypress tree". The emblem, see, 
Of all f une r ea I t h bigs b a I 

I weep and groan! The Winds ail moan 
As though my outstretched arms forlorn 

Thev lab': \ . — -"._-■_.■" " ■. .-^ 



- 



Ceyx. My love, 1 fa sar a sad, bw ■: plaintive cry 

As welling from some soul of grief. Shall we 
Pursue the sound and give our mite of cheer 
To lighten ' sssness of him who moans? 

Alcyone. Our grief is laggard to no wail of woe, 
And bonds of sympathy may well entwine 
The throbbing hearts :>: sorrow's hapless brood. 
Let's go to him. my love, and give him help. 

Ceyx. Poor Cypress! Thou art sure a sorry sight! 
Those who beheld thee once in flush of youth. 
Gay then in spirit and with heart so free, 
Could scarcely recognize in this bowed tr^~ 
Thy former self. A destiny is here 
Thy friends regret though powerless to change. 

Alcyone. Take wish for deed and so behold our hands 
Undoing what they're powerless to do. 
The will is here, the power with the Gods: 
Let sympathy repay the lack of strength. 

Cypaeissos. I thank you. gentle ones, for will and speech; 
I thank you for the faith ye hold in me ; 
I thank you that in this unseemly plight. 
Ye find no object to increase your fright. 
I am so rooted, and my grief ye know. 
If aught of wise Apollon ye have heard. 
It is his will! Now give me leave to aid 
You in vour sn*ief, and lend you drowsy oc 



ALCYONE. 367 

Whereon to pass remainder of this night. 
Who may pursue I will his way debar. 
Lie down to rest. Good Hypress will let fall 
The friendly veil of sweet forgetfulness. 

Alcyone. Ah, friend, we find that which we came to give! 
Sweeet sympathy and cheer! Do thou but sleep 
And we will keep the vigils of the night, 
And warn thee of the blushing smile of Dawn. 

Cyparissos. I need no sleep, my gentle counselor, 
Whilst thou art now in struggle with the drowse 
That weigh the heavy eye-lids to the cheeks. 
Yield to the God's demand and I will guard. 
I will the vigil keep and cry alarm 
If any cause arise within the night. 

Ceyx. 'Tis good of thee; and if it is thy will, 

Why then good-night, and rest be with thee, too. 

[Ceyx and Alcyone lie down and sleep. 

A Nightingale. Oh sweet is the dream 
In the night all serene 
When each cackling bird wrapt in slumber is still; 
When the soul is supine 
In repose and the scene 
Is the fullness of that which our bosoms would fill. 
The loud-mouthed jay 

And the screaming hawk, 
The bustle of Day 

With its hurry and stalk, 
All hushed and en wrapt in the arms of sweet sleep, 
Leaving me the soft night and its vigils to keep. 

Then the notes of my song 

In the stillness ye hear, 
And the rapture it brings fills the soul with bright 

Oh sweet is that song, [dreams. 

And its message is clear, 



ALCYONE. 

And it lifts the low soul into heavenly realms! 
Xo babbling ill 

Recalls now the speech 
Of the jay that is still 

And the hawks wilder screach; 
For lost is the thought, and alone is the charm 
Of my song which comes ringing in joyous alarm! 

The cat and the jay. 

The mighty osprey. 

And a tumalt of sono- 

Is the Day's melody — 

Or its discord of glee — 

Now listen to me 

And my transporting song! 

The Lark. Eos tips the mountain tops. 
Blush of Day is here! 
Wake. O Slumber! Fancy stops — 
Light is full of cheer. 

Phcebos shows his ruddy face: 

Shadows flee away: 
Matins sing we to his race. 

Greeting thee, O Day! 

Xeyx and Alcyone tsron ■ 

Csrx. How have we slept! Ah. craven care! the mark 
Of sleep doth hide thy hateful face! Thy cry 
Of ills to come it drowns in slumberous seas 
Of sweet forgetfulness! And then, indeed. 
What ferret hath the mind to that dark hour 
Between the night and dawn wherein the soul. 
Oblivious, lolls without a thought of care. 
Though troubled much with both ere that it slept? 
None but the Gods can know how thou. O Sleep, 
Can so bestow thy gift and magic spell 
To make anew the wasted frame of man. 
While he unconscious is to toil and art! 






ALCYONE. 369 

My love, drink in afresh the draught of Day, 
The Sun is up, we must upon our way. 

Alcyone. I was so weary, love, that slumber came 
A nurse to trembling limbs. Within the night 
His art hath soothed their pain and made anew 
That which enfeebled grew. I'm rested now 
And fresh as mountain dew at break of day, 
Or breeze that sips that sparkling tear of night 
Ere glance of Helios hath frowned it dry. 

Cbyx. Dear heart, I feel for thee and would not urge 
Thee on the way so soon but that I fear 
Pursuit, and know that whilst we linger here 
We miss my people's comforts and their cheer. 
From realms of fancy and the night's repose 
Face we the stern realities of life. 
And, hand in hand we take our humble way. 
We supperless retired; give us the strength, 
Ye Gods, to bear a longer fast, or so 
Direct our hands in search of esculent 
That grows upon the wayside of our path. 

Alcyone. Tis here! These calyxes hold dew as sweet 
As honied nectar of the G-ods divine! 
A Ganym6des now would make complete, 
Or Hebe help this banquet to define — 
This spread of herbs with sparkling dew for wine! 

Come! let us eat of Nature's boundless store, 
Which through her grace is offered to us free! 
The choice of all the world — who could ask more? 
Or thankless feel when riches 'round we see? 
O Mother Earth, this grace we offer thee! 

[They gather the fruits and eat.] 

Forest Nymphs. What are these within our byways? 
Forest nymphs they are not, sure! 



370 ALCYONE. 

Bold indeed to dare the highways 
Wherein goblins might allure. 

G-oblins. Peace! Awake not fear's alarms; 
Let them wander on awhile. 
Time will show them other charms 
Than are found in Love's soft smile! 

Chorus. In the meanwhile let us scamper, 
Skip and romp these woods and shout; 
We are sure their lives to hamper 
When we hedge them round about! 

Wind Sprite. What rousing noise is this I hear? 
Come, scurry Elfin, and inform me. 
Hey? Here are things of trembling fear; — 
And, by my faith, they turn to scorn me! 

The Winds. They are the objects we have sought 
Within the woods so wild and dreary! 

And iEolos would sure have wrought 
Much pain on us, footsore and weary 

Had we returned without the child 

That makes serene his stormy wild. 

[Ceyx and Alcyone spring to their feet and clasp their hands in 
fear. ] 

Alcyone. The Winds! The Winds! My father's slaves are 
What shall we do! What shall we do! [here! 

Ceyx. G-ive me 

My spear! — I charge you to begone! 

The Winds. Ha! ha! 

Don't think to frighten us with crooked stick! 
Bethink thyself and lay thy staff aside. 

Alcyone. Oh why — why have ye come! Am I yet loved? 
Would ye now mar the little peace I've found 
Within these wilds? Go! gentle slaves. Forbear 
Intrusion on the bliss of life, for such 




ALCYONE. 371 

Is brief enough! Come but to comfort us. 
Bring cherry smiles and not that grusome look 
Which threaten things we dare not even name! 

Ceyx. They speak not and I'm sure they evil bring. 
Oh if I only knew some vulnerable spot! 

Alcyone. What, slaves! No word to say? No power of 

Have ye forgotten now whom once ye loved? [speech? 

Her ye were wont to full obey though wish 

Was fancy bred? Why are ye stubborn then 

Who were such willing slaves? Have I abused 

Your faith? Have I done aught unkind to wound 

A tender chord within a bosom here? 

Yet still ye stay and threaten with your frowns. 

And speak a surliness in every nod 

That bodes no good to me! Will none obey? 

Where then is my Zephyros true, good slave 

Of all my whims! — will he deny me too? 

Sweet friend of former days, dost love me yet? 

Me whom thou once loved all so well and strove 

To prove it in thy every word and act? 

Wherefore conceal it now? Wherefore this change 

That scorns my helplessness and turns away 

From plea of love? Have I so foully wronged? 

Is it a wickedness to give the heart 

To him deserving, though the Gods oppose? 

Be kind, good slave! Remember it was I 

Who coaxed fair Chloris in thy wooing suit, 

And I who spread her nuptial bed, though she 

And thee my slaves ; I, then, again, who bore 

The blushes of her face to thee; the sighs 

She would not let thee hear I spoke aloud 

That love might strengthen in its faith and force: — 

And what is my reward! When I have found 

A mate (as she found thee), bestowed my heart 

In loving trust on him so worthy it — 



372 ALCYONE. 

Found bliss more sweet than art had figured out, 

Or fancy pictured in a maiden's dream. 

Then father, kindred, all, would turn me out. 

Or break my heart in breaking faith with him 

To whom the very heavens have betrothed 

And bound my cling-in g soul! And thou hast come 

To break the tie! to bear me back to grim 

Captivity whence gloom and rank despair 

Prevail — since light of love is soul of life. 

And thou wouldst leave it here where Ceyx is ! 

Bethink thee now of this. Bethink thee then 

Of Chloris and thy love. If she and thou 

Had fled the anger of unnatural hate. 

Would I. think" st thou, now help to take thee back? 

Tear knitted souls as though entwined weeds, 

And bear the bleeding halves so wide apart 

That death alone could ease the aching loves? 

No! no! Each drop from wreaking wounds would cry 

Forbearance to such cruel deed as that ! 

And wouldst thou be less tender and less just? 

Why would thee I were back? Because I love? 

Let Love then plead its own excuse to thee. 

Let thy compassion speak. Think Chloris here, 

And Gods will sure reward thee for thy love. 

Zephyros. Forgive me, fairest mistress, and I go. 
I came not by my will, though but too see 
Thyself in happiness is rich reward 
For any labor to a journey's end! 
I go, although thy father's wrath may fall 
Unstinted on my head. Do thou but think 
Some kindly thoughts of me and I can brave 
The Shades themselves in giving help to thee. 

[ Goes. 

Alcyone. That will I gladly do. And Euros, thou? 
Euros. Commands I here obey. 









ALCYONE. 373 

Alcyone. But I command 

Thee go! and thou my will hast oft obeyed. 
Thou and thy fellows follow my good slave. 

Euros. Fair mistress, (ever fair, but mistress now 
No more!) once was my will thine own, in truth. 
When thou abode within thy father's home. 
Thy nod was law to me, and pleasure was 
In the performance then! Alack the change! 
Oft have I wafted thee about from clime 
To clime to view the fairness of the world; 
Have borne thee to some mountain crag, high perch, 
To gaze on Nature in her grand display 
Of richness sprung for thee, have swept the seas 
To show thee rolling waves and wild unrest; 
And happy in it all if smile was won 
From thee whom all were wont to love! I would 
That I could please thee yet again. I would 
No cause had come between to mar thy rule. 
But others now command me and have sent 
Me here. Thy father still is lord of Winds, 
And sternly bids his slaves to find and bring 
Thee back to him. My duty thou canst see: 
And so I pray thee come and linger not. 
Bethink thee of his bleeding heart! how love 
For thee is burden of his soul, — for thou 
Wast light of all his realm and joy to hearts. 
I hear his sobs e'er ringing in mine ears! 
His cry that ceases not nor day nor night — 
His cry for Alcyone, his lost child! 
And I dare not go back to him alone. 

Alcyone. But all my heart is here. I love my home 
As well as daughter should. I love my sire 
Far more than I can tell ; for he of all, 
Hath shown his love for me. But I am bound! 
The Gods have set the seal of human love! 



374 ALCYOXE. 

Xo matter who may bid I can not leave 
That love. 

Boreas. Persuasion answers not. Our duty's plain. 

Notos. Seize on the maid! We'll bear her back by force. 

Ceyx. Back! Back! Stand back or by great Zeus — 

The Wihds [in chorus . Ha! ha! 

But listen to the youth! One might well think 
A God stood in our way. 

Alcyone. Come! Come! O Ceyx! 

Their force man can not ward. They sweep the earth 
When they are wroth, and seas roll at their will! 

[The lovers flee pursued by the Wind* »cho are joined jby many 
Woodland Sprites and Beasts of the tcraggy copse.'] 

Wint> Sprites. Swaying tree-tops as we go. 

Scattering leaves upon the ground, 
We pursue now fast, now slow. 

Keeping close to victims found. 
As the leaves are falling, 

Shaken from the trees. 
By their fears appalling, 

Blighted by the Breeze! 
Falling, foiling, falling — 
Be their fears appalling. 

Blighted by the Breeze! 

Typhoeos. Fever parch and thirst o'ertake them! 
Let my breath now blast and bake them! 

Withered leaves must fail and lie 
Where the restless winds may heave them; 

Can a helpless mortal's cry 
Alter doom the Fates decreed him? 

Men as leaves must fall and die ! 
Like old Death my breezes blow. 
Sacrificial in tb^ir roar 1 



ALCYONE. 375 

Goblins. Follow! follow! Shades and Elfins, 



Beasts and Birds and frightful Gnomes ; 
We pursue like vengeful Harpies. 
Mortals shall not here find homes. 

As the drift of flying leaflets 

Which the autumn wind doth toss, 
So we scatter hopes of victims 

Who have dared our paths to cross! 

Follow! follow! See them hurry? 

They are frightened unto death! 
Follow! Shadows; draw around them; 

Hem within these things of breath! 

[Ceyx and Alcyone, pursued by the Winds and the host of Shades, 
etc., rush out of the Woods and are confronted by an inaccessible 
precipice. Clifts open to show the lairs of beasts of prey, while 
Fountains spurt from every ledge filed with screaming Nymphs 
and other hideous shapes, etc. ] 

Oreads. Who would here our homes invade 
And disturb our peaceful sleep? 
Goblins, ye? Then every Shade 

Shall weep! 

Know ye all that on our will 

Wait the fearful things of strife? 
By our nod they'll render still 

Any life! 

Goblins. We are friends, so come and join us: 
Add your horrors to our sting. 
Here are things that have defied us, 
Set at naught the force we bring. 

Oreads. What! Those mortals who now cower? 
Surely they have not defied! 
Show resistance to a Power? 

What pride! 



376 ALCYONE. 

Ceyx. O Zeus! What great offense is at our door? 

Why dost thou hold from us protecting care. 
And give us unto these for punishment? 
Tell us wherein we sin; where forfeited 
The love thou gavest us ere we had met? 
Willing are we to bear such penal pains 
As justice may declare to us are due. — 
But have we so deserved? Is it a sin 
To love too faithfully the things of earth? 
To give our wills too strong a lease on life? 
"Twas thou who gave us each to each, and thou 
Who mad'st us love, or gave to Eros dart 
To sting the hearts of both with mutual flame: 
Then teach us what we owe to thee, and what 
We owe to self, that so dividing acts 
Of love we may be even then most just. 

Notos. Ha! ha! He would dictate to Zeus himself! 
Such arrogance is rare. 

A Satyr. Be not surprised. 

I heard him speak more arrogance than this! 
He once defied Poseidon and his host; 
Nor so petitioned then. 

Boreas. Come, now, return 

With us. 

Notos. Ask not, but seize and bear away. 

Alcyone. Have mercy! Oh, forbear! forbear, good slaves! 

Shades. Once we heard borne on the breeze 
Such a cry as this: 

Fearful end to all who please 
But to live and kiss! 

Disdaining all whom they may tease- 
Living in their bliss! 

Disobedience has his day — 
Vengeance comes anon ; 



ALCYONE. 377 

Culprits then are wont to prey, — 

Prone are wills to fawn! 
But sweet Justice will delay 

Till the cheeks are wan! 

G-oblins. Vengeance! vengeance! give us vengeance! 
Disobedience is our cry. 
Let us rouse to full repentance — 
Echo each and every sigh! 

[Echo repeats and the Beasts roar. Notos and Boreas alight 
and draw near the victims who crouch against the rocks of the 
precipice. The Goblins, Satyrs. Shades, etc , hem them in, 
Typhoeos blowing on them.'} 

Notos. Take thou the maid and I will hold the youth. 

Ceyx. Take that! thou dark and bodeful Wind. Would 
Of Grod were in the fling to pierce thy heart! [hand 

[Ceyx throws his dart. Notos arises like a cloud, shakes himself 
and settles down again. The dart falls harmlessly upon the 
ground. J 

Notos. Poor fool! Thou knowest little of my strength. 
I am the Wind of Storm. Now listen sharp! 

[ The Clouds gather and the Thunders roar. ] 

Thunder. I thunder, I crash, 

The lightnings I flash, 
The heavens I scowl all so lurry ; 
I rain and I hail, 
The forest I frail 
With the winds which attend to my fury! 

The cloud is my home, 

And on it I'm borne 
Where the will of my rage may desire; 

I revel in night 

And the darkness I light 
With the flames of the Tempest's wild fire! 



378 ALCYONE. 

Ha! ha! I am bold! 

I'm Nature's own scold! 
I'm mock of the calm and its folly! 

I gather my force. 

In the wake of my course 
I sweep to destruction the jolly! 

I'm frown of the earth. 

And I wreck in my mirth 
The tokens of love and its story ; 

The bluster and roar 

And the flurry and flow 
Of elements wild are my glory! 

[Seismic muttering ~s art heard. The clifts open and a huge Shapk 
steps forth, followed by a volume of black smoke. Panic seizes 
the Beasts, Goblins, etc.. and they flee in mid confusion. The 
Winds are frightened but remain.] 

The Winds. Hephaestos. son of mighty Zeus! 

Hephaestos. 'Tis I. 

But who are ye. and what means this? 

Alcyone. Great God, 

They do pursue us and no peace have we! 

Hephaestos. Wherefore? 

Ceyx. I wooed her love and she is fled 

With me. 

Hephaestos. Hath honored her through sanctity 
Of Gods? 

Ceyx. Yea. Eros joined our loves and blest 

Our union, and fair Aphrodite gave 
My precious one the cestus of true faith. 

Hephaestus. She gave to thee more than she gave her 

Away! \e Winds. Back to your Kingdom go! [spouse! 
These creatures are my guests. 



ALCYONE. 379 

Notos. Wilt thou, great God, 

Defy old M6)os thus? 'Tis through his will 
We come, 

Hephaestos. Enough. I will explain, or bear 

The blame. Begone! — Come, children, to my home. 

[ Goes into the cvae with Ceyx and Alcyone, leaving the Winds 
without.^ [Exeunt omnes. 

Scene II. — Hephaestos '' Caw- where Cyclops work amid 
smoke and soot, and bellows wheeze and puff. Enter Hephaestos 
followed by Ceyx and Alcyone. 

Hephaestos. In truth ye are not favored things of earth, 
And much abused, ye seem, by faithlessness 
Of friends and rank injustice of the world. 
My heart goes out to those I find beset 
With labor such as yours, so cruel and hard. 
I have had taste of it. There's nothing can 
So rouse our sympathy as kindred wounds. 
What would ye, now, my children, I can do? 

Ceyx. Great God of Fire, thou knowest all our wants 
Far better than our tongue can tell them thee: 
Administer to them as thou think'st best. 
We were beset with fiercest creatures born 
In heaven high or fertile earth beneath, 
And thou with look alone did drive them hence! 
That power we invoke for mercy now, 
Assured of its good force and righteousness. 

Hephaestos. {Musing). E'en Gods may find some food for 
thought! Here are 
These earth-born things of clay whose lives are low, 
Whose spanned existence is a breath short as 
The pant a God gives with a simple pain ; 
Here are these grovelings of the dust, these worms, 
These shapes of things celestial, moved as we, 
The highest of the Gods! Knitted by loves, 



380 ALCYONE. 

By passions torn and mocked by wild conceits! 

Yea, buoyed by hopes, alive with rash desires, 

Despondent with each passing shade! How like! 

Unlike us only that they die and rot, 

The conscious self, the form's identity, 

Lost in the shades of blank oblivion ; 

That life, like Stygian stream, passing beyond 

To lose itself within the nether world! — 

In love, these two, and so well matched! Earth holds 

No fitter sight than love bestowed on love, 

Nor heaven high can claim diviner flame! 

I catch no glimpse of my sad mating here! 

Me miserable who holds love's favors lost! 

I am then less than mortal for the fire 

Of my desires is smothered in the gloom 

Of disappointed love ; snuffed by the breath 

Of cold indifference and the glance of scorn! 

Yes, truly, though their life is but a span, 

A quick drawn breath that gasps existence out; 

And sphere of them is low, a narrow range 

Beset with wayside hedge and pricking thorns, 

Yet are they blest in finding on their way 

Communion of sweet souls, — true zest of life! 

O my afflicted heart! what wouldst thou give 

For love like theirs? I am a God; yea, true, 

A most miserable God who burns with that 

Consuming fire which cursed Zelotypos, 

For I behold my love bestowing love 

On whom it pleases her, so bringing shame 

On me and mine! Deformed I am and halt, 

Cursed by the Gods, and kicked from heaven high 

To earth beneath; but blessed I thought it all 

When Zeus bestowed on lowly me the fair, 

The beautiful of heaven's host, — on me, 

Forsooth, because I pleased her not, and she 

Pleased not the God of all Divinities! 



ALCYONE. 381 

My love is fair, but beauty is a bawd, 
A daugeroue thing! For it begetteth love, 
It fosters jealousy, engenders hate, 
And startles spite and malice into life! 
Oh what a peace when Love and Hate are wed! 
[To them]. Bright son of Hesperos, look to thy bride! 
Fair Alcyone loves thee now; seest that 
She finds no cause of change lest thou becomst 
As I: lost in the darkest depths of woe! 
But come! A friend unto you I will be 
To serve ye fairly as a friend should do. 

[He leads them, into the Cave. Fires hum in Forge and Furnace 
and Oupalos vent liquid streams of molten iron, The Smiths 
are busy at forge and anvils, etc. ] 

Hephaestos. These are my slaves. They forge for me the 
Of war, the helmets and the shields which dight [darts 
In panoply complete each warrior bold. 
Zeus gets his thunder here, and Ares fierce 
Grows bolder in his bright cuirass of steel. 
Poseiddn, too, his trident here procures, 
While all the Heros from my forge are made! 
Fierce seem my workmen, but their labors speak 
A language yet more fierce and hard to meet. 
Their solitary eyes like torches gleam, 
And apt are they to start a throb of fear, 
For on a foe they throw a baneful glare, 
But friends remember well who Cyclops are. 

Alcyone. Oh, good Hephaestos, this is very strange! 
My limbs do tremble and I feel as though 
I were within the wilds again midst foes! 

Hephaestos. Fear not ; they are my slaves and me obey. 
To prove the good will that they bear I will 
Command them arm ye two against your foes. 
Come, Brontes fit a warrior's armor here 



382 ALCYONE. 

Upon this youth, e'en one to grace a God. 

And render him invulnerable to all. 

A thou, good Steropes, get thou a wand, 

A light and golden wand, for this fair one: 

And wand which may an aegis prove to her 

To frighten wicked Winds when they would leer. 

Or any enemy who here would harm 

Cyclops. The word of wise Hephaestos is our law. 

His will we will obey ; and so we bring 
The armor and the wand as he directs. 

[They put armor on Ceyx and give the wand to Alcyone. 

Hephaestos. What change is here! From man of peace 
thou art 
A warrior clad in steel, all gyved and speared 
And ready to combat who comes in way! 
Thy courage, too. hath grown to war-like ways. 
For fear is valor when 'tis clothed in steel! 
So stalks the prowess of the the valient man! 
He shrinks till clothed in power, then he rails. 
Cries -coward' to those not begirt as he. 
And thinks it honor to depart himself 
So grandly in his borrowed livery! 
Do thou deplore such arrogance, but feel 
The godly force thy armor gives for right. 

Ciyx. Hephaestos, words are feeble and this tongue 
Can ne'er express the gratitude I feel. 
Forever shall my thanks be given thee! 
Thou first in all our thoughts; thou first in deeds I 
Thou who beheld us at the mercy vile 
Of merciless things and then did set us free. 
To clothe us in the power of thy care! 

Hephaestos. I am repaid in that I aided you. 

Cyclops. We are the mighty sons of Earth and Sky, 
Who forge the thunderbolts for Zeus to hurl! 



ALCYOJSE. 383 

At anvils and at forges here we ply 

The craft that fits the feeble of this world. 

(Clink, clack, clank, click-clack ! ) 

The feeble of this world to battle here; 

(Clink, clack, clank, click-clack!) 

That shields the heart and drowns the mind to fear. 

(Clink, clack, clack, click!) 

Our cuirasses are bright, our helmets close; 

Our arms have strewn destruction on the fields; 
The Gods alone will dare themselves oppose 

To phalanxes that bear aloft our shields. 

(Clink, clack, clank, click-clack!) 

What makes the mighty heros here below? 

(Clink, clack, clink, click-clack!) 

The arms they hear that overcome the foe. 

(Clink, clack, clack, click!) 

As Cyclops we are doomed, but yet this eye 
Sees all the needs to make the warlike man. 

Us should he thank who better can espy 
The means for him to rise — if rise he can! 
(Clink, clack, clank, click-clack!) 
Farewell ye favored ones whom Gods befriend! 
(Clink, clack, clank, click-clack!) 
'Tis meet ye walk aright; your 'fairs attend. 
(Clink, clack, clack, click!) 

Hephaestos. Come! I will lead you now beyond confines 
Of my poor kingdom, for I know ye wish 
To go upon your way. 

Ceyx. Thou readest thoughts, 

Great G-od, and lendeth aid to our desires. 
How gracious should we be, and how return 
A measure of thy care? 

Hephaestos. By thinking not 

Of a return. That act is base indeed 



384 ALCYONE. 

Which calls for a reward, and was but done 
For carry-favor to a selfish end. 

The God leads th<m out of the Cave and oJ<_<ny a winding path 
over the. Mou Jit ain, cleft and <:ho.-<> ~~ • sid ! : iplauu 

and Sea far In the d.U 

Ceyx. How great is friendship and how glad the heart 
That basks within the sunshine of its glow! 
The soul that gloomy was by such is light. 
And sorrows laugh, and fears forget to start. 
And pains are soothed as by a magic touch. 
The very source forgot within the flush 
Of happiness that comes with peace and love. 
The woods and dells resound with happy song. 
And heaven smiles in brightness over all. 
And naught will mar the scene to hearts that swell 
With ail the fullness of sweet friendship's spell. 
What beautifies or mars if not the thought 
Sprung in the broodings of a restless mind? 
And what guides either way i: not the weight 
Of some external thing of light or shade? 
Beauty, at best, is fancy born of Sei:. 
Its coloring but the tint we owe the light 
That falls in harmony askant our thought 
To leave the soul its rich reflected gleam. 
A thing of dream! And so are all things rare. 
The good and bad. the right and wrong, the fair 
And foul — all creatures of the thought that springs 
From its own wish and its environments. 

'They reach the tea shore. 

Alcyone. O Ceyx. dear, we've come unto the Sea! 

Mark how the waves break on the rock-bound shore? 
How fearful seems its frothy face; how lierce 
The breakers roar! Dare we to linger here? 
This is the kingdom of Poseidon now. 
And he and all his ho>t are pn^mies 



ALCYONE. 385 

To us and threaten our dire ruin! May not 

Old Nereus now, or Triton, or the nymphs, 

Or Proteus and the rest, pounce on us here 

And wreak the vengeance on us that they feel? 

Bright Hesperos, I see, and Atlas, too, 

And my own father, JLolos, as well, 

And they with fierce Poseidon now consult 

To fix a penalty upon our act! 

My heart misgives me — Shall we further go? 

Hbphaestos. Fear not for I am with you still and will 
Not leave you to the mercy of their hate. 
I will deliver you to one who shall 
Bear you beyond this angry arm of sea 
And set you on your way to home and friends. 

Come, Circe, from over the sea! 
Come, Circe! come thou to me! 
I've a duty at hand, and by thy command 
I'd set these earthlings free. 
Come, Circe, from over the sea! 

Ceyx and Alcyone {In Alarm.) Circe? Circe? 'Tis death to 
Delivered are to her! Is she not leagued [us if we 

"With enemies of ours? and sorceress, too, 
Whose fatal charms kill as the lance of foes? 
O good Hephaestos, call not her again, 
But let us stay with thee! 

Hephaestos. Of little faith 

Ave ye, and fear is master of your hearts! 
I'm not the God deserting helpless ones, 
Or leading trust to altar of its death. 
Circe obeys my word, and ye are safe 
If ye but think on me and hear her not 
However soft her words and cooing notes. 
Think of your home and love and me, and gaze 
Upon that wand and armor bright, and let 
Some thought of good come in your heads, some thought 



386 ALCYONE. 

Above the earth and its travails of fear. 

My image carry, too; its ugliness 

Will help to break the charm that beauty holds. 

Hide ye your faces ; hideous seem withal, 

And danger there is none. Poseidon is 

In distant seas with Nereus and his nymphs: 

And what ye saw was conjured in your minds! 

Go forth and fear ye not. The Siren comes! 

[Exeunt. 

Scene III. Circe with her pearl-shell bargue, filled with 
Sirens. Music to the dipping of the oars. 

Circe. Who calls? Ah! what is thy good pleasure, sire? 

Hephaestos. My pleasure is that these poor things of earth 
Shall, by thy aid, be set across the sea. 
Help them aboard thy craft and do for them 
What thou wouldst do for me. As thou dost hold 
My friendship, look to the safety of them, 
For they are mine in every sense of care. 

Circe. Fear not, good Smithy God, thy care is mine, 
And I will hold it sacred; never fear. 

Hephaestos. And do it well, if thou art friend of mine. 

[ Exit Hephaes tos . 

Circe. Come in, my charges. Sit beside me here; 
And we will soon be o'er the trembling sea. 
For like a swallow skims my dainty craft, 
And we are there ere we are thought to leave. 

[ They climb aboard the craft. 
Now, faithfuls, loose the moorings and the sails, 
And stir us through the swirling deep and shoals 
Of Scylla and Charybdis with much care. 

[ The craft bounds over the sea. 
Come, trembling ones, to me and we will watch 
The waves rush by as through the sen we glide. 



ALCYONE. 387 

Ye should not be so frightened for ye are 

Tn care of her who never broke a trust. 

Gaze in those eddying throats this hungry Deep 

Gapes wide. Some blind confusion sure might cast 

You in for them to gulp you down to depths 

Unknown did not my craft and skill defy 

Their evil want and force. 

Cbyx. All thanks to thee! 

How grateful we should be for thy good care. 
But I assure thee though our tongues lack speech 
For framing fitting thanks, our hearts are brim 
With thoughts that honor thee. 

Circe. 'Tis well. 

I thank thee for assurance of a truth 
I knew ere it was spoke, for in thy mem 
Is evidence of all that thou wouldst say. 
1 feel much honored by thy honoring thought. 
But listen ye to me, for I would draw 
You both yet closer to a kindred heart, 
And show you why I crave your sympathies. 
Ye know, I wis, that I am she they call 
Enchantress of the Deep; a name, forsooth, 
That does discredit to my heart, for I 
Am lonely, and my blandishments (if such 
I have) are but to beg some one to love 
A creature languishing in dearth of love, 
When all her nature calls for such a flame 
To light the melancholy of her heart! 
A daughter I of Helios and her 
Known as fair Perse of the Deep; and thus 
Was called sorceress through my mother's fame! 
For all I know of artifice is wish 
To serve, desire to gain the love I prize; 
For human is my heart in its desire. 
Injustice is the sting most hard to bear, 



388 ALCYONE. 

And e'en iny siren slaves whose voices sweet 

Oft wreck the trusting ones on rocky shoals. 

Are held in higher worth than cheerless I. 

Who would give all her own for little faith! 

A marble hall full of the goods of earth. 

A nuptial bed with golden tapestries. 

A life of ease, a sensual home of wish. 

And yet no one will come to share that home. 

Or let me serve them to the bliss of love! 

I dream sometimes that Love has found me out ; 

I dream my tessellated halls are full 

Of life: I dream Love rules supreme, and that 

I'm subject to his will — and my rapt soul 

Is full of bliss! I dream I hear about 

My royal board the festive speech of cheer, 

And rippling laughter breaks the stillness there; 

I dream the banquet hall is filled with guests. 

With those to do full justice to the feast ; 

And my poor heart is glad, and I am full 

Of happiness in serving so my iove! 

The dream alone. I fear, must comfort me! 

Each one I would approach despises love, 

And scorns the heart responding to its force-! 

"Tis not a blessing, dears, to live alone 

Though rich in all the worldly can bestow. 

For longing is the heart of her unloved 

And naught can compensate the lack of mate. 

My castle is a prison and my slaves 

But gaolers there — so long as I remain 

Companionless of anyone to love! — 

Come, siren maids, get ye your harps and lut^s 

And join your voices in sweet melody. 

I would some music hear with my sad tale 

To i - and bitter sting. 

The Sirens As gayly, gs j ;r the sea 

W re sailing on so men 



ALCYONE. 389 

In chorus let us join and sing 
The harmony that Love can bring: 
In faith we meet, 
Let friendship greet 
The union that doth make complete. 
The legends told in days gone by 

Of treacherous maidens on the shore 
Who sang to love — destruction nigh — 
The truth can never find them more. 
The tale untrue, 
We know that you 
Will join with us to sail the Blue. 

Will join and fear no siren's sigh; 

Will see no visioned shore where bleach 
The fabled bones beneath the sky! 
But will enjoy our song and speech 
As o'er the deep 
We rock to sleep 
All troubles that in hearts can creep! 

We'll seek beyond the rolling main 
A place of perfect peace and rest, 
A cove wherein the greatest gain 
Is love, and love in union blest! 
A land wherein 
The heart shall win 
The dearest thing which yet hath been. 

In fair JEaea there now dwells 

Within a castle grand and wide, 
One whom a love alone compels 
Her to forget her rank and pride! 
A goddess, she 
Would sue to thee 
And beg; the love which should be free. 

No siren's voice entices here 

To rocky shoals and hidden reel's; 



390 ALCYOXE. 

Our song is one of sweetest cheer. 

Our hearts are moved o'er mutual griefs. 

Come then. O dears. 

Forget your fears. 
For in Love's land there are no tears! 

Sing we in chorus. 
Sing we in love; 
Friendship before us. 

Concord above: 
Though only sirens 
True is our song! 
Swifter than biremes 
Move we along. 
To the land, to the land far over the sea. 
We will sail, we will sail so merrily — 
We will sail, we will sail so merrily. 

Circe. Dreading the tempest that's lulled into rest? 
My heart, my heart, why feel so opprest! 
Watching for dangers when dangers are past? 
Fearing a pleasure when pleasures would last? 
Cheating love thus with a gloomy set cast? 
My heart, my heart, let troubles all rest! 

Speeding and rolling now over the wave — 
My Prince, my Prince, I would be thy slave! 
Reaching the shore where my castle is hid. 
Bidding thee, master, its mistress to bid! 
Ruling supremely as ever Love did- — 
O Prince! O Prince! let me be thy slave! 

Dreaming of love is the lot of my heart! 
My dear, my dear, let us never more part! 
Living in realms with a starry blue dome. 
Seeing no shadow and never a gloom. 
Musing of love in that beautiful home — 
My d^ar. my dear, let us never more part! 



ALCYONE. 391 

Riding the waves of the wild, rugged sea, 
O Love, O Love, wilt thou stray with me? 
Skimming the Deep as a cloud in the sky, 
Drinking its azure, breathing its sigh; 
Feeling life throb whilst thy presence is nigh — 
O Love, O Love, wilt thou stay with me? 

Ceyx {whispering.) The song and roar of waters fill mine 
Seductive are the strains and full of guile. [ears! 

Alcyone, my love, I need thy help! 

Alcyone {whispering.) Think of Hephaestos love. Cast 
out the thoughts 
Aroused by Circe's arts. They lead to ruin! 
They lead to hopeless realms where woes abound 
And bliss is but a mockery of sound! 
Believe the God, and bid the spell be gone. 

Ceyx {still whispering.) First soft and low as breathings of 
Awaking to dreams of its desire; [some love 

And swelling now as though a pang of doubt 
Had stirred a wail of tempest and unrest; 
And grander still as confidence new born 
In sweet assurance of a love's return, 
Reciprocal of all within the soul! 
Anon still dying off in sweet, sad, strains, 
Lower, lower, hopeless, dying — dead! 
Yea, with a mighty burst to soar again, 
E'en to the lofty dome of heaven high 
To set the stars aringing harmony! 
Like to a morning wrapt in peaceful sleep, 
But with its breath attuned to matins sweet, 
Like to a day advanced when distant growls 
Of thunder start the trembling of a leaf, 
Like to a swelling tempest and its roar, 
Like to the bursting of its fury pent 
That sweeps the earth of man's poor feeble strength, 
Like to the parting clouds when force is spent, 



392 ALCYONE. 

Like to the stormy day that sinks to rest 



Its eye bathed in the glowing flush of hope; 

So sprung, so rung, so ends this luring song 

The sirens sing to me! Love speaks its praise; 

Emotions stir my soul to rapturous ease: 

I feel a stupor in my heart and brain 

As though a potent drug bedrowsed the sense! 

Alcyone {whispering) Arouse! Arouse! Shake off the 

subtle charm! 
We're lost if thou surrenderest to the spell! 

Circe. Behold my charms' Am I not beautiful? 
Can Aphrodite match this grace and form? 
Can Hera show more pride of mein? or fair 
Athena now devise more wit to win 
Thy love than I have used? I crave that love. 
And I would mould all things unto my wish 
That I might it enjoy! Hast thou forgot 
That I am of Immortals of the earth 
And have a force inferior to none? 
That force shall ever be at thy command. 
If thou wilt only honor me with love! 
Think of my home, my charming glades and dells, 
My fountains of perfumes, my drowsy winds 
That waft the fragrance round; think of my walks. 
My tessellated halls, my feast of cheer, — 
Ambrosial food and nectar of the Gods; — 
Think of my high estate, my birth and kin. 
E*en daughter of the Sun-god and the Sea. 
And that ethereal kingdom opened wide 
To object of my love! Thou shalt with me 
Traverse the realms of Light; sit with the God^ 
And hear the Muses sing, and watch the flight 
Of Seasons in their change! The Hours shall be 
Thy slaves, and graces wait upon thy wish 
If thou wilt o'o with me! 






ALCYOJSiE. 393 

Alcyone {whispering.) Say no, my love, 

Say no! She is a sorceress and base 
And pleads but for thy ruin! And look! O look! 
The Scyllae rise from out the raging deep 
To threaten other harm! Arouse! my love, 
Arouse! 

The Scyllae. Ah! ah! the wicked Circe here! 
How dar'st thou come so near us in the sea? 
Us whom thy treachery hath placed out here 
To aid Charybdis in thy cursed work? 
Think'st thou we have forgotten then thy curse? 
We are that Scylla whom thy arts transformed 
Into most hideous sights, and so we leaped 
Into the sea to find a rooting here 
Where we now stand destruction to all life. 

Circe. And what care I? No more I care for you 
Than I was wont to care for Scylla's self 
When she was young and fair and thought her face 
Superior to wit. She felt my force; 
And so shall you if you do not stand back 
And let me pass! 

The Scyllae. Beware! Beware! We may 

Yet grasp on thee and hurl both thee and thine 
To bottom here to make you fishes bait! 

Circe. Your rage is impotent. Sink you below 

The waves and wreck ere you be seen ! Farewell ! 
And hold your wrath for one who fears its ills. 

Ceyx {recovering). The land, fair Circ6; see the land! Do 
But hasten there and we will bless the day [thou 

And thee who has so helped us on our way. 

Circe. And thou wouldst go from me and all my love? 

Ceyx. Fair Goddess, I am now consorted here, 
And though I might love thee with all my soul 



394 ALCYONE. 

Were my love free, 'tis anchored true and sin 
And pain would be my punishment should I 
Defy the bonds that G-ods have forged. I am 
Unworthy thy great love, and I beseech 
Thee waste it not on me. 

Circe {To Sirens, ) Turn ye about 

And land these ingrates ere I do forget 
The charge of good Hephaestos and so land 
Them in the Deep instead! Here what they say? 
They scorn my charms and taunt me with my faults! 
Ye Gods! what pass is this! {They land.) Off, earthlings, 
Creep to your land and crawl like virmin true! [off! 

There is no friendship e'er between us more. 

[Ceyx and Alcyone land and the craft sjieeds out again. The 
sea is then covered with Nymphs. Dolphins, Sea Gods, etc. , who 
dance in fury and give chase to Circe. All is tumtdt and uproar.^ 

Poseidon. The creatures of our rage. Seize them, my 
And that vile sorceress who aided them, [Nymphs! 

Catch her, ye G-ods! We will a reckoning have! 

All. Scurry! hurry! seize and hold 

Sorceress and fugitives! 
Dangers taught them to be bold — 

We will teach them folly lives 
In defying- godly scold! 
Scurry! hurry! seize and hold! 

[Exeunt. 

Scene IV. Ceyx and Alcyone traisping the woods. 

Ceyx. Ah! how we've wandered over land and sea! 
Art weary yet, my sweet? The journey's long 
And wearisome and wild, and I had saved 
It thee but that a selfishness of heart 
Craved some companionship along the way. 

Alcyone. My wanderings have been sweet because of thee. 
More reason now to thank the will that bade 



ALCYONE. 395 

Me come since I have seen the dangers that 
Beset thy way! and if thou wert alone 
Too much, I think, it were for thee to bear. 
But choice I never had, e'en had I feared, 
For duty was with thee, and love the rule 
To govern consort on her way aright. 

Ceyx Still worthy all the love heart can bestow! 
But, sweet, let's hope that dangers now are past, 
And bright is all the way we have to tread. 
More pleasant are the scenes around us sure, 
And Nature's richness here doth lend much cheer 
To buoy despondent souls and make them glad; 
And fragrance of her flowers rich and rare, 
And blush of ripening fruits that tempts the eye, 
Are her fair offerings to a spirit sore. 
With birds and flowers we can not he sad. 
Sweet songs do break upon the ambient air, 
The feathered warblers giving forth their notes 
To fill the world with joy — and joy it is 
To be as one with them! By sounds of chase 
I think the huntsmen hie in quest of game, 
And maybe brave Adonis we may see 
In his wild sport, or yet fair Artemis 
Girt as the God and happy in the chase. 

Alcyone. But see! the wood is through! and there a plain 
Doth stretch away to where horizons kiss 
The borderland of earth. Is home beyond? 

Ceyx. Not yet my sweet. A few more plains, a few 
More rugged mountains yet to scale and we 
Are there. But see yon oasis of woods? 
It is a grove renowned in prophecy ; 
The mighty Oaks Dodona grows for Zeus 
To hold his secrets and his word of fate. 
We'll hasten now to them and learn the truth 
Of all we hope and fear. Dost know them not? 



396 ALCYONE. 

A history their tale, and I but know 

A fragment of its truth. But some things strange 

I can now tell to thee. This shady Grove 

Was Zeus' halting place when first he came 

To earth. The Oaks gave shelter, and he them 

Entrusted with man's fate. His sacred shrine 

He set up there, ordained the Selii priests, 

And Nations far and near came here to learn 

What destiny was theirs. And when old Time 

Had changed the phase and Selli were no more, 

Then prophecy became the part of those 

Same mighty Oaks which from the first had caught 

The mystery of Words and could predict 

As truly as the G-ods themselves. But now 

Here are the Oaks, and we will see what fate 

Awaits our course. — Great souls of Prophecy, 

We pay obedience to y our might and worth! 

The Oaks. Ah, hail! ye breath-spanned creatures of the 
What wish is yours? [earth; 

Ceyx. Our wish is one of hope, 

And ye can make it fair by pointing way 
For its accomplishment. Will ye not draw 
The curtains back, which darkly fold the dim 
To-morrows of old Time, that we may see 
What future joys are there in store for us? 

The Oaks. Can we draw back the curtains of old Time? 

Can we unfold the future ere its day? 
Can we give preludes of a coming chime 

And soothe a pain not yet impressed on clay? 
Our power is omniscence of the Gods, 
And Time foretells himself at our nods. 

But whoso covet'th ills ere they are felt? 

Are not the ones ye have enough to weigh 
Your souls in bondage down? your spirits melt 

To tears that side by side your hopes may play 



ALCYONE. ?>m 

With disappointments to at last perceive 
That all is lost without a hope's reprieve? 

Ceyx. Will ye not tell? It is no idle quest. 
For knowing all before I can so pick 
My way avoiding needless toil. So long 
Have I been struggling with dire fates; so long 
Have I sore suffered being blind; so long- 
Have I with faint and trembling footsteps led 
A trusting one upon a weary way 
That I would beg some light to guide me on 
And help me keep my love from pain and toil. 
Good Oaks, pronounce the truth! 

The Oaks. O foolish one, 

Thou know'st not what thou asketh! Dost thou think 

Thou canst deceive the Fates? Let it be known 

To thee that Gods themselves, when Fates oppose, 

Are futile in their strength! The Fates hold sway: 

Inexorable are their set decrees! 

Thou pleadest for thy consort as if she 

Should fare some better in the world than thou. 

Is she not one with thee? Hast taken her 

To wife with hope that she will be above 

Thy pains and toils, and know but rest, whilst thou 

Will bear the hardships of the twain? 

Thy fate is hers as hers is thine, and ill 

Will come to both alike. — But thou wouldst know 

The future and its ills would then avoid! 

What part in it for Fates if power lies 

in some foreknowledge which may set aside 

The ends ordained? Thou shouldst remember this: 

Were knowledge means of setting ends aside 

Then Gods had Fates defied and crowned themselves 

"Beginning and the End!" And since decree 

Ls set for Good or Bad to come, — or known 

Or not— would not the prescience of the fact 



3®8 ALCYONE. 

Rob pleasure of its charm by its foretaste? 

Would not thy fancy pinioned be to earth 

And rendered miserable for lack of scope 

Preluding dreams of joy? Remove the shades 

That blind the eyes of man to future things 

And Hope is dead, and Faith will lack the spark 

To keep itself alive, since all will then 

Be known and naught to guess! Love could not spring. 

For its incipiency would long be known 

And hoary when the passion came and void 

Of zest. Foretasted sweets will satiate 

With time and pall ere their enjoyment. 

While coming evils swell within the mind 

And aggravate themselves to such a size 

That death is in the very thought of them! 

Forbear ye then to learn of future things. 

And move ye in the ways of finite man. 

Ceyx. Our fortunes then are bad. for silence speaks 
More direfully than words! 

The Oaks. We said it not, 

Nor said we anything to give you pain. 
Ye should not so torment yourselves with dreams 
Which spring through ignorance of your state. 
Time brings its dreams and hopes will; sway your hearts 
If ve will ffive them leave and stifle not 
Their breath by gruesomeness of thought. Away! 
A kingdom waits you and the time is lost 
Ye loiter here. 

Ceyx. Good Oaks, can ye now tell? 

Or do ye speak in riddles but to hide 
The fact that knowledge is as blind to you 
As me. or any mortal here on earth? 

The Oaks. Thou wouldst provoke us: but irreverence 
Is not a plea for truth ! The future is 
To be as ve shall find it. and the time 



ALCYONE. 399 

Shall show what we now know. So fare-ye-well! 

[Exeunt Ceyx and Alcyone. 

Scene V. — Ceyx and Alcyone arrive at the foot of Pindos. 
The mountain is rugged and precipitotts, great ledges of rock over- 
hanging them. 

Ceyx. My sweet we've tracked the waste in vain, for here 
Are mountains inaccessible to us! 
I'm weary with the search for way beyond! 
My nature cries for rest ; and thou, I know, 
Art weary unto death. Here let us stop 
Awhile, and here beneath this ledge of rock 
That canopies a cove fit for the drowse 
Of Hypnos, or Oneiros of sweet dream, 
We'll give ourselves some little time to think 
And to devise a way from this wild place. 

[ They rest and fall asleep. 

Oreads. Hist! Something lies beneath our ledges! 
Hear the labored breathings low? 
What! Beasts from out the tangled hedges? 
Look and thou wilt say, not so! 

They are creatures higher born than 
Lowly brutes that roam the wood; 

They are of the genus God-man; 
Mixed is ichor with their blood! 

Napaeae. Do not rouse them from their slumber: 
We can tease them as they are! 
Steal the wand and mighter armor: — 
Lightly now and have a care! 

A Bird. Lal-la-day! lal-la-day! say! say! 
Beware of the creatures asleep! 
Lal-la-day! lal-la-day! They, they, 
Are wicked and sting very deep! 

Hyades. Frown the heavens with their coming, 
Lightnings flash and thunders roll! 



400 ALCYONE. 

Call the forces of the mountains — 
We must seize and them control! 

Oreads. Hush! hush! lest ye wake 
These creatures of fear! 
Search each hollow and take 

Such crude weapons found near! 
Chill, chill the wind blows! 
We'll out and about and gather each thing 
That will do here to fling 
At these doughty foes! 
We'll bring down a torrent that roars, 
An avalanche torrent of woes 
Full of things that will crush as it goes! 

[Enter Centaurs, Satyrs and headless creatures, .] 

Centaurs. Ha! What is all this noise about? 
Why this bustle and this rout? 

[Ceyx and Alcyone awake and spring to their feet. .] 

Chiron. Ah! ha! I see the cause! The fugitives 
My mother warned me of. Philyra did 
Not dream, nor guess amiss, for here they are, 
Bound for Trachinia, their kingdom grand. 
We have them, fellows; they can not escape: 
And vengeance we will take for all the Gods! 

Ceyx. Why now? What have we done to thee? and who 
Art thou that champions all the ails which fret 
The thoughts of peevish minds? for none have we 
Offended save in petulance of will 
That held their pleasure as the rule for us. 
Allowing us no freedom of our own. 

Chiron. I am that Chiron of the Centaurs whom 
Philyra told you of, and petulance 
Have none. My duty's plain, and it is will 



ALCYONE. 401 

Of those above me in the world's command. 
Ye have offended gods and nymphs of earth ; 
Ye are prescribed, and loyal subjects are 
Constrained to do you harm. E'en parents are 
Loud in complaint, and I am warned to hold 
You to their will. 
Ceyx. I am not here to be 

Borne back without a struggle or a word! 

Alcyone. Good Chiron, have some pity for us now! 

We meant no wrong though wrong we have provoked. 
Our sin is but in living as we do! 

Headless Creatures. Have done! have done with this! 
Say, Chiron, are 
We then to do thy will? Impatient are 
Our hands for the wild fray! 

Satyrs. And ours! 

[Imps enter from the crags.] 

Imps. And ours! 

Ceyx. I wear the arms Hephaestos wrought for me; 
I have his courage in my heart, and by 
The Gods who favor me, I'll stand the force 
Of all your arms! 

Alcyone. And I here hold the wand 

The Smithy-god devised. Its merit shall 
A bulwark be to Ceyx! 

Chiron. No time have we 

For battle of great words! Seize them, ye slaves, 
And pinion arms and boast! 

[ They fight : Ceyx driving them back to be himself forced close. 
Alcyone waves her wand.] 

Centaurs. Submit! Submit! 

Ceyx. Not till this arm shall helpless fall and breath 
Desert this frame! 



402 ALCYONE. 

Satyrs. There's power in his blow! 

But lay we on again and we shall break 
His valor with his steel! 

Headless Monsters. Here's at him then! 

iT hey fight again and drive Ceyx to the rock. 

Chiron. Surrender, now! Surrender ere the Fates 
Pronounce your doom! 

Ceyx. Pronounce it? It is set! 

I can not alter it; nor will I try! 
To meet your force is my sole duty now. 

Alcyone. O Ceyx! Ceyx! how I wish that I 
Were girt in armor too, and could devise 
Relief to valor's strength! 

Ceyx. Thou and thy wand 

Are doing valient work. Thou givest strength 
To will and arm. 

Alcyone. O may it last till some 

Relief is come! 

Chiron. Now. Centaurs, Satyrs, all! 

Press on them and the battle is soon won. 
What! Are baffled by two puny arms? 
Let me then take the lead! I am surprised 
At you!— Ho! What is this! 
[Pegasos t /fo>s down and lights between the combatants.] 

Centaurs. The winged horse! 

Apollon's flying steed! What doth it mean? 

Pegasos. It means Apollon is not pleased with this, 
And so hath sent me down to bear aloft 
The creatures whom ye press. Their valor hath 
Awakened sympathy, and he will shield 
Them now himself. Come, earthlings; mount my back 
And I will take you from your enemies. 

[Ceyx and Alcyone are boime aloft. Their enemies disperse. 



ALCYONE. 403 

Scene VI. Apollon's Heaven. Enter Ceyx and Alcyone, led 
by Pegasos. 

Pegasos. This is Apollon's realm, and I was bid 
Bring you herein and leave you to his charge. 

[Exit Pegasos. 

Ceyx. What change is here! Plucked from a world of toil 
When Demons would oppose, where Death's grim arms 
Were open to embrace, and set down here 
In scene like this! Transported in one breath 
From field of strife where hapless all did seem 
To this retreat of peace and happiness! 
O Alcyone! are thine eyes alive 
To all the beauty of the Earth and Skies? 

Alcyone. I see it, love, and feel a sense of joy 
Unspeakable. Confusion fills my soul 
In realizing but a step doth space 
This place of bliss from that we have escaped! 
How close extremes do lie, and how profound 
The mysteries of life! A throb of pain, 
A breath of pleasure, and 'tis gone again, 
For man to marvel at its birth and end! 

Ceyx. But what more strange than this, or beautiful? 
Above a canopy of blue that holds 
The blazing diamonds of fair astral lights 
That help the full round Orb of Day to beam 
Benificence of God; beneath a pendent sphere 
Swayed with the breath of Love — and that love G-od's, 
Which cherishes vain Life and its clay home! 
And there upon a throne of gold and pearl, 
Where sparkle gems of purest rays and fire, 
Sits royal Host of all — Apollon fair, 
With beauty lit to his surroundings here! 
A jeweled lyre he holds within his hand, 
A halo of soft light above his head, 
Hyperion locks reflecting so their gold! 



ALC\ - 

His mighty frame encircled in a m-rs b 

Z ':.:.-. speaks Athens - art, i tank :ich 

In woven deeds : i^me! Around in groups 

BBs willing YassaLs stand, attentive ears 

To catch the slightest word of his command. 

Hm traces and the Hours alary, Fame, 

I rpetual Youth and fair Eternity, 

The Muses and a host of minor lights 

That grace his throne and fill his realm with bliss! 

Was ever dream so rare as this fair sight 

Bathed in the splendor of Apollons light? 

ALCYoyi None e'er appeared to me so fair, my love: 
And I have seen much tha: ws - glorious too! 

n its. Phoebos, God of light and joy. 

Great Apollon of the lyre, 

- ::ing here can thee ann 
Whs : an mar thy hr s iesaie? 

We but wait thy slightest nod 
He: r tc si tc w a ready hand. 
For thy mission, gentle God. 

the word of thy command. 

Apollo>~. Your willingness k please is duty done: 
I have no other labor for you nc w 
Dispor: urself and be ~ith alL 

'_ 7 ■ : ?..-. I- •" - ■ ~. - - 






The Sbasokb. Thallo. the Bloom :po, bearing fruit. 

With languid Summer, wait upon thy word; 
The seasons ever happy in pursuit 

Of anything that may thy wish have stirred. 

For when tl iai . is fertile bj thy raj - 

And 7 ss en se blushes with the wind, 

remember whom we owe the prais- 
i who if s thai >less - ry kind. 



A L C T ONE. 405 

Apollon. No Phaethon shall guide my steeds again: 
So rest ye in a confidence secure 
That all your needs shall be attended to. 

The Hours. Swiftly speed the passing hours: 
Time for Eos soon to rouse 
From yEaea's drowsy powers 

And the arms of sleeping spouse. 

Heosphoros with his torch-light 

Beckons to the nodding Dawn; 
Steeds and chariot of the Sun-light 
Soon are harnessed for the Morn. 
Apollon. 'Tis well. I will be ready for the day. 

What say the Muses ere I thence depart? 
Calliope. Great son of Zeus! Celestial sire of all 

That's great on earth, inspirer of the soul 

Which feels thy need when in ambition's flight 

It mounts to fame in glory of itself 

And him who gave it birth, beholdest thou! 

There moves upon the earth a feeble kind, 

A thing whom we call Man! Of low degree, 

Aspiring in his mind and something kin 

To that divine inflatus which inspires 

The Gods to deeds of immortality! 

Let known thy will to us concerning him, 

For he petitions us to give him fire — 

Not that Prometheus stole for him of flames, 

But that to raise him high in his desire — 

Assimilating Gods in words and deed! 

Let me now teach him how to touch the chords 

Of Heaven's symphony; so frame his words 

Heroic deeds shall live eternally, 

And he, though low and mean and creeping now, 

A groveling of the earth, shall rise and live 

Immortal in the hearts of all his kind; 

Preceptor of the Youth that's yet to come! 



406 ALCYONE. 

Clio. Bright Courser of the skies, I second this ; 
But to Calliope I fain would add : 
By that divinest gift my mother gave — 
Good memory — let man so jot the world 
That all its many changes shall be known 
To those who follow him. Let Wisdom con 
The useful and the bad and so record 
Results of both that struggling ones may see 
Their way within the labyrinth of life. 

Melpomene. And in the bloody battles of each life 
When Valor feels the stab of Anger's thrust. 
And Pity's trampled on. and proud Disdain 
Shall fear no enemy till murder stares 
Upon a wreaking waste, let me then teach 
The heart its words of woe, the thoughts that fire 
Which shall so stir the living by the dead 
That crime shall hide its face from future eyes. 

Thalia. To me then give the lot of comedy, 

That I may teach the world to laugh at ills: 

May find a point of mirth in all I see ; 
Zvlay be as gay as leaping, sparkling rills 

That clamber down to glens from rugged hills. 

The clouds of man's displeasure let me sweep 
From all horizons that his thoughts can frame; 

No sorrows shall abide with him to weep, 
No pleasure e'er depart I can reclaim: — 

In this I hold the secret of my fame! 

Polyhymnia. Let man forget his ills but not his God! 
I am the Muse that shall remind him still 
Of duty owed above; whence is the will 
Of Life, decree of Death that levels odds! 
The forms of godly offerings protect! 
In hymns divine I'd teach the lips of man 
To praise the Giver and to bless the plan 
Of all, which was designed to his respect! 



ALCYONE. 407 

Terpsichore. The muse of dance and roundelay- 
Shall strike her lyre when thou art done, 
And nimble feet shall skip and play 
In frolic full of gladsome fun. 

Away with thoughts of serious face! 

Apollon, canst thou not teach me 
A duty that will keep the pace 

Of fleeting Life and still be free? 

What need of all the worry now 

That man doth feel in low estate? 
Canst not thy power show him how 

To rise in spite of gloomy Fate? 

Urania. Yea! yea! his eyes to wander still beyond 
The things so lowly sprung that they may rest 
In realms remote, where broods Astraeos fair 
Among the countless myriads of his stars 
Whose horoscope may mark the path of Life 
And all the good and ill attending it! 
Or, better still, to probe Infinity 
And realize the measure of his God. 

Euterpe. And if it please the God of Light to grant 
Me power over child of Japetos, 
I will unfold the music of the Spheres 
And let his being revel in the sound, 
And teach the world the symphony of arts. 

Erato. But Love would crown the wish of all 
And bind in victory the brow, 
And teach the heart to e'er recall 
Its faith, though lost no matter how. 

To hold the world within the heart, 
Each varying sentiment to please, 

Love feels his duty, and no art 
Should lag in forging harmonies. 



403 ALCYONE. 

With man. what e : er his destiny. 

Let Love but guide his footsteps straight. 
And all the world will live to see 

Him conquer all — save Death and Fate! 

Apollon. Man"s destiny ye shall attend. But come! 
The lives of two have been in jeopardy 
E'en while ye spake! For see the mortals there! 
Let none but Fate them ills decree. Come, dears! 

i To Ceyx and Alcyone. 

Poor insects of the dust! Ye surely need 
Some friendly eye to lead you to your wants 
And aid your feeble efforts to attain 
The goal of life! Some one to teach vou how 
Account for all ye find within the world; 
And why your lives should pay a penalty 
They recked not of. nor knew the fatal cost! 
Why pleasures are so brief, and ease the part 
Ye live within a dream — the visions lost 
When your sweet slumbers are disturbed! 

Attendants. Sure the mortals are among us! 
Even here in Heaven high! 
While we have them here before us 
Let us hush their earthly sigh! 

The G-races. Mortals, ye are in the Kingdom 
Of Apollon. God benign! 
Come! and learn of him the wisdom 
That will show the world's design. 

The Muses. Wherefore? Whence? and whither, mortals? 
Why to Heaven are ye come? 
Ye now stand in godly portals, 
And the Muses bid welcome. 

Fame. What ambitions led to Heaven? 
What Divinitv. insootb. 



ALCYONE. 409 

To your grossness gave a leaven 
Lifting it to home of Truth? 

Apollon. Frail mortals, welcome to my realm. I know 
Your wants and why ye roam the earth and sea. 
Ye have faced many dangers and at times 
Well nigh despaired; but courage took new breath 
And on ye toiled, and so at last are here. 
Peace lives within and you are welcome to't. 
Look down, and at your feet the world is spread, 
And ye can gaze upon it freed of strife 
And that which frightened while upon its bourne. 
Your vision so is cleared and ye behold 
What else was darkened whilst ye were engaged. 
In struggles with the enemies of life. 
And when ye weary grow of that fair sight 
Gaze on my heaven here! Bathe in its glow! 
Breathe its eternal blue, and quench your thirsts 
In fountains of sweet bliss! Each tree and flower 
Is for adornment of the beauty here 
To render a fit home for joyousness. 
Abide awhile with us and ye shall find 
Surcease of all the wrongs you've past. 

Ceyx. Great God 

Thou knowest well that gratitude 
Doth fill our hearts, and that our tongues are dumb 
Because confusing thoughts do crowd our minds! 
Thou didst deliver us and bring us here — 
That were enough to make us bless for aye 
The kindness of thy heart, most glorious God! 

Alcyone. And thou hast set no gage upon our wish, 
But mak'st us free to act and think as Gods, 
Forgetting we are earthborn and must die! 

Apollon. Forget the earth and live within my realm; 
Learn here of Glory and of Fame, life's goal 
And how it pays the efforts of Mankind! 



alctone. 

Heosphoeos. Salute! Bright God Hie Chariot of Day 

Is ready, and. away 
I go to east a glow 
On hilltops of the Earth be', c 

Eos. I follow, closely, touching skies 

"With tints of Heaven's beauteous dyes 

And in the East I paint the dawn. 

Then Westward moves the blushing Morn! 

The Horns. The chariot of the Day is heir. 

The steeds impatient for the race! 
Apollon of bright warmth and cheer. 
Will greet the world with smiling face. 

Apollox. Give me the reins! Now clear the way! — 
Farewell my charges! Peace be with j 
I go to carry Earth its Day 

And plow the deep Ethereal Blue! 

"Apollox mounts the Chariot and th >-■ I eed through th 

React/is folio <c iag E - - Hours, fc] 

Chorus of Attendants Over. yver. over the way. 
Treading the path of the new-born Day. 
Pass we in train of Apollon of light. 
Bathing the Earth in beams of delight. 
51 abbing the Darkness She >ting a ray 
Into the Night to wake it I Day! 
Over. over, jvei the way, 
Trailing the path of the New-born Day. 

Chorus eh Heaven. Farewell. Apollon, with th;. 
Farewell till all return again! 

ly home with :ll Its .tightness waits 
Thy coming when its pearly gates 
Will swing ajar : i thy fair train: 
Farewell till all return again 

Ceyx. Fa: )s1 _.: ns God! F. 

My love and I will wait for thee 



ALCYONE. 411 

To bless thee and beseach the spell 
That purged our hearts of misery! 

.Alcyone. Farewell! but thou art still with me 
As though thy self were at my side! 
I hold the living thought of thee, 
And it doth bless the time and tide! 

The joy of its face can bring 

A pleasure that no tongue can tell, 

Its spirit bids the heart to sing 
And e'er rejoice within thy spell! 

Farewell! 



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